The Vampire Next Door

by Ashlyn Chase

  As the train pulled away from the station, she heard Sly chuckle. She joined him as he laughed harder. By the time they were well on their way to the next station, they guffawed in cathartic relief.

  At last, wiping the tears from her eyes, Morgaine asked, “Now what?”

  “Now we take the subway to the next station and change lines. We can board the train at South Station.”

  She blew out a deep breath. “So, you think we’ve lost him?”

  “Unless he anticipates our next move.”

  Suddenly a horrible thought occurred to her. “You don’t think he’s following us, do you?”

  She tried to see out the back window, but all was black except for the occasional signal light flashing by.

  “No, even he’s not that stupid. The one thing no supernatural creature wants is to be found out.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I imagine we’d be tazed, drugged, and dissected.”

  She shivered.

  “Are you cold, love?” He placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

  “N-no.” Did he just call me “love” instead of “babe”?

  * * * *

  At last, Sly and Morgaine arrived at South Station. The place was brightly lit, so he imagined she’d feel more secure. The light bothered his eyes though. Would she feel safe enough if he let go of her sweaty hand to allow him to hunt? Since he hadn’t fed for days, and his previous dinner plans had been rudely interrupted, the blood lust was making his head ache. He imagined this must be how someone with low blood sugar felt if he or she skipped a few meals, times a thousand.

  After purchasing their train tickets without any money, thanks to his power of mesmerism, Sly led Morgaine to a bench in the waiting area.

  “Morgaine, I need to um… find some nourishment. Will you be okay sitting here for a few minutes by yourself?”

  Her eyes widened. “I guess so.” Quickly, she added, “Or maybe you could just take a little from me?”

  Touched by her willingness, he smiled. “Not this time, love. I’m famished and I need more than a snack.”

  “Oh.” She heaved a huge sigh. “In that case, I guess I’ll have to be okay.” She released his hand. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded, but her smile seemed strained.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. The train leaves in thirty minutes.” He bent down to give her a quick kiss, then took off before she could change her mind.

  Stepping out into the night air, he stopped for a moment and sniffed. All he smelled were humans and fuel from cars and trains. No hint of Vorigan. Good. Hopefully they had seen the last of him for a while.

  Sly thought he remembered an area nearby where some homeless people hung out. He wasn’t fond of feeding on them—especially if they had booze in their blood, but this was an emergency and he didn’t have time to watch and wait for a serious crime to be committed. Loitering was a crime, right?

  Striding along the tracks, he came to a bridge. Yup. They were there. Huddling around a trash can fire.

  One of the three men looked him over with suspicion.

  “You’re a cop, aren’t you?”

  Sly chuckled. “Far from it.”

  Another guy looked him up and down. “Well, you’re too clean to be one of us.”

  “Hell, he’s too well dressed to be a cop,” the third guy said. “So, if you’re not a cop, you got any money?”

  Sly looked directly into each of their eyes.

  “Hey, your eyes are changing…” The man’s words trailed off as he fell under Sly’s thrall. Sly knew his eyes turned from brown to blue to violet when he mesmerized people. At least that’s what he had been told by onlookers before he’d wiped their memories afterward.

  One after another, he compelled the men to do his bidding. Taking some from each of them allowed him his fill without depleting a single individual. The tanginess hit his tongue like a welcome first bite from a long-awaited meal.

  “Ah…” He burped. “Much better.”

  He spoke to the men once more. “I have no money for you. You don’t see me and won’t even remember I was here.” Turning to leave, he released them from his mesmerism with a snap of his fingers.

  “Guess I was hearing things,” one of them said.

  The guys turned back to their fire and ignored him.

  He trotted back to the station, hoping to find Morgaine waiting calmly exactly where he’d left her. As soon as he entered the noisy waiting area, he spotted the bench—empty.

  Shit.

  * * * *

  Sly found Morgaine huddled on the floor of the ladies’ room, struggling to breathe.

  He sat beside her and grasped her trembling hand. “Babe, what’s going on? Are you all right?”

  “Panic attack.” She rocked slightly, clutching her chest.

  “Here, look at me.” He tipped her chin up so she was looking directly into his eyes. Mesmerism didn’t work the first time I tried it on her, but what the hell… try, try again, right?

  She did as he said, but for some reason his mesmerism didn’t seem to work on her. Damn. Her eyes still blinked and didn’t take on a glassy look. Was he losing his touch, or was she just immune? He had never met a human immune to him before, but Morgaine wasn’t just anyone. She was a powerful witch, and who knows… maybe she was more powerful than he was.

  “Your eyes! They change color.”

  He sighed heavily. “So I’ve been told.” Realizing he wouldn’t be able to use his favorite trick to get her through this trip, he’d have to come up with other ways to relax her.

  “What can I do? Would you like a glass of water?”

  “Don’t leave me.”

  “I’m not going to leave you. We might have to leave the ladies’ room though. I don’t think women would appreciate my being here, despite my charisma.” He grinned, hoping to joke her out of it.

  She didn’t crack a smile, but her breathing changed. “Don’t worry about visitors.” She pointed toward the door and swept her arm in a wide circle. “There. We won’t be disturbed now. Breathe in through the nose… out through the mouth…”

  Sly pulled a lock of hair away from her face. “What brought this on, love? Was it just my being gone for a few minutes?”

  “Not completely.” She loosened her fist and let go of the bunched-up dress fabric over her breasts.

  “What else factored into it?”

  “Some old guy was hitting on me.”

  He smiled. “You’re a beautiful woman. And in case you’ve forgotten, I’m an old guy.”

  “You are not. You’re only fifty-six.”

  That made him smile.

  At last she turned toward him. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Don’t worry about it. If you can accept my embarrassing moments, I can accept yours.” He squeezed her hand.

  “You don’t have any.”

  “Sure I do. I’m embarrassed that I don’t have any money and have to compel people to give me whatever I need.”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “I guess. It doesn’t matter much to me.”

  He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “You’re amazing. You deserve someone who’s equally amazing.”

  Her eyes widened. “Are you dumping me?”

  “No!” He shook his head emphatically. “I’m not breaking up with you. I’ll stay around as long as you want to put up with me.”

  She snorted. “And how long are you going to want to put up with me?”

  Sly placed his hand on her cheek and leaned in to kiss her. She pulled away.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I-I need to know something.”

  “Okay…”

  “All the endearments. Are you just being charming? Are you using them to keep me calm? Or are you telling me what you think I want to hear?”

  “None of the above.”

  Morgaine stared at him, waiting… What could h
e say to her? He didn’t even know why the pet names flowed so naturally.

  “Look, it’s been a long time since I’ve been involved with anyone. I don’t know if what I’m doing is right, wrong, or…” He searched for better words. There must be words to explain himself.

  She ran her fingers over his thigh to his knee and back. “Maybe it’s just lust?”

  The gentle pressure of her fingers felt so good that he groaned. “Morgaine, if you don’t want me to lift you up and fuck you against the wall in this public bathroom, you’ll stop that.”

  She smiled sadly. “And there’s my answer.”

  “No. Don’t do that. Don’t put words in my mouth.”

  She dropped her gaze as well as her hand.

  Baffled, Sly sighed. “What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”

  When she glanced up at him, tears shimmered in her eyes.

  He grasped her chin gently and turned her to face him. She tried to twist away, but he wouldn’t let her. “Tell me what’s bothering you.”

  “I tried not to fall for you,” she said. “I really did. I don’t want to get hurt, but I guess my heart had other ideas.”

  Sly couldn’t help but be surprised. She loves me? The thought might have caught him off guard, but it didn’t scare him.

  He stroked her cheek and leaned in to kiss her again. This time, she didn’t pull away. She met his lips with a tentative tremble. He kissed her once, tenderly. Then something inside him insisted he go for more. He slanted his head, cupped the back of hers, and dove in for a deep kiss. She wrapped her arms around him and returned his fervor.

  Yes, he could get used to this. In fact, he was damn lucky to have found someone to take a chance on him at all. How many women want a sterile, nocturnal partner on a permanent liquid diet? How many would let him sink his fangs into their necks and trust he’d take no more than he needed? And how many women could he trust with his heart like he knew he could this one?

  Their lips had parted automatically. He swept the inside of her mouth with his tongue and found hers. She returned his French kiss but avoided his fangs. Swirling their tongues and tightening their embrace, Sly almost forgot where they were.

  The doorknob rattled, bursting their little bubble.

  “Damn. Somebody wants to come in.” Sly leapt to his feet and extended his hand to her. “Come on, dar…” What should he call her if not “darling”?

  She smiled like she had come to some sort of peace with herself. “It’s okay, Sly. You can call me sweet names. I kind of like it.”

  “Good. Are you ready to get out of here now?”

  She took his hand and stood, then pointed her finger at the door and circled her arm the other way.

  He grinned. “You’re amazing.”

  She shrugged. “I’m a witch.”

  “And all woman.”

  * * * *

  Morgaine had slept with her head in Sly’s lap most of the way to New York. They took a cab to their hotel, thanks to Sly mesmerizing the driver.

  The city was decorated for Christmas. She thought it was still early, but perhaps since they were in the commercial center of the universe…

  Now he was going to try his mesmerism on the desk clerk. Fortunately, the hotel was pared down to a skeleton crew at four o’clock in the morning, so there was no one but Morgaine to witness it.

  Sly made eye contact with the man and held his gaze for a few seconds before saying, “I called about the corporate suite. Is it still available?”

  The desk clerk answered him cheerfully. “Yes, sir. Do you have a credit card?”

  “But the place is already paid for.”

  “Of course, but we need a credit card for incidentals.”

  Sly reached into his inner coat pocket and withdrew an invisible wallet. He went through the motions of looking for something. “I’m sorry. I must have left all my cards at home. That shouldn’t matter though, right? The company will pay for everything.”

  “Very true, sir. We prefer a card for identification but if you don’t have one, you’ll need to fill out this form.” He handed a slip of paper to Sly and returned to his computer while Sly filled out only the top portion asking for a name. He scribbled in the other spaces, then slid the form across the desk.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Sly acted like he was extracting some money from his billfold and slid nothing across the counter. “A tip for your trouble.”

  “Thank you, sir.” The guy smiled at both of them and said, “I hope you have a pleasant stay, Mr. and Mrs. Flores.”

  Mrs. Flores? Had Sly registered that way? Or did the desk clerk just assume they were married? She hadn’t paid much attention to what name or names he had actually written. She supposed he could have gotten away with registering as Mickey Mouse with the desk clerk under his thrall.

  On the way up to their suite, she became curious and had to ask. “Sly? Have you ever done that mesmerizing thing on me?”

  He wrapped an arm around her waist. “Nope. I tried it when you had the panic attack, but it didn’t work.”

  “Damn. It would have been easier.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “Why didn’t it work on me?”

  He kissed her temple. “I’m not sure, but I’m glad it didn’t. For one thing, it’s a trick. Whatever a person says or does isn’t real. You’re taking away their free will. If you want to know what they’d really say or do—who they are—you can’t manipulate them.”

  “That makes sense, but what if I gave you permission? Like in an emergency.”

  “I suppose…”

  The elevator stopped, and the doors whooshed open. Sly picked up her suitcase and followed the corridor to their suite. He used the key card to open the door for her.

  Morgaine strolled inside and flicked on the lights. On the thick carpet sat a stately tan sofa, two overstuffed armchairs, and some mahogany end tables, plus a coffee table polished to gleaming. “Pretty!”

  “Yeah, it’s almost too nice. Maybe I should ask for another crappier room.”

  She whirled on him. “Why?”

  He laughed. “I was kidding.”

  “Oh.” She felt silly whenever she didn’t recognize his humor. Oh well, she’d catch on eventually.

  “Getting back to why I didn’t mesmerize you…”

  “Yes?”

  “If I hadn’t let you talk, I wouldn’t have discovered some important information.”

  She stopped admiring the artwork and turned to face him. “What information?”

  He set the suitcase down, crossed to her, and grasped her shoulders gently. “That you love me.”

  She glanced up at him coquettishly. “Did I say that?”

  “Sort of.” He drew her in and held her close.

  She tensed.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing.” She let out a deep sigh. “Okay, there is something, but it’s no big deal.”

  “Spill it.”

  She hesitated a moment, then mumbled, “You didn’t say it back.”

  He stroked her hair. “That doesn’t mean I won’t.”

  “So, I’m in this alone for now?”

  “You’re not alone. I’m just…”

  She looked up at him, expectantly.

  “I don’t know how to explain it. Maybe I’m still not used to the idea of being with someone other than my late wife. Or I’ve been missing Alice for so long, I have to let go of that first. Or maybe I’m just being cautious. I don’t really know. I’m sorry. I guess that’s not really helping.”

  She nodded but didn’t speak. She didn’t want her voice to tremble or crack. It’ll be okay. He’ll come around—I hope.

  Suddenly, Sly’s body slid out of her grasp and fell to the floor.

  “Sly!”

  She looked at the heap and couldn’t fathom what had happened. Kneeling next to him, she shook his wilted body.

  “Sly! Wake up!” His chest wasn’t rising a
nd falling. Oh, no. Is he dead? A moment later, she rolled her eyes at herself. Well, of course he’s dead. He’s been undead for twenty-six years. He told me once he only takes a few breaths per hour.

  Suddenly it occurred to her—the sunrise. It must be sunrise! She rushed to the window and spied a faint purplish-pink sky and a golden glow behind mostly dark buildings.

  “Oh, crap. Now what do I do?”

  She had to protect him from the sunlight. He had explained that a suite would afford them a room they could darken while she remained in another room with the sunbeams streaming in during the day.

  This schedule sucks.

  She had to act fast. There was no way she could drag him across a carpeted living room all the way to the bedroom, avoid the growing light, then lift him onto the bed and seal the curtains shut before the sun caused him to burst into flames. I could close and tape the curtains first… No, that would take too long, and meanwhile the sun is rising!

  Thinking fast, she grabbed his wrists and dragged his lifeless body into the bathroom. No windows in here at all. Perfect!

  But what if she had to go?

  She pondered that for about a minute, then realized he wouldn’t wake up if she sat on his stomach and played solitaire all day. “Okay, I guess you’re safe from the sun.” And I’m safe from embarrassment.

  She strode to the bedroom, pulled a blanket and pillow off the bed, then returned to the luxurious, spa-like bath and tucked him in.

  Did it always happen like this? Passing out no matter where he was when the sun rose? That could be quite inconvenient. That’s when she realized that he needed her as much as she needed him.

  Chapter 13

  Merry pounded on the door of apartment 3b for the third time. “Morgaine!” Where the hell is she?

  Gwyneth was jogging up the stairs. “Merry? What on earth’s going on? I ain’t never heard you yellin’ like that before.”

  “Oh, Gwyneth, do you know where Sly and Morgaine are?”

  “Yeah, they went to New York City for a spell.”

  “A spell? Morgaine had to go all the way to New York for something to do a spell?”

  Gwyneth chuckled. “Well, yes and no. I meant they went away for a while. A spell is just another way of saying ‘a while.’ As it turns out, Morgaine is givin’ a friend some magickal help too.”