by Lane Mason
“So what is wrong with me, Garg? Am I just messed up over Jack still or is it that I am confused over what I want? Frank seems like a nice guy, but so was Jack. I loved Jack. He was wonderful to me in so many ways, but he was kind of paternalistic when I think about it. I think I picked a father figure for my first love. No regrets. It was a good marriage, Garg, but something was missing. I want to be equal in decision making and equal in bed. No secrets. I want sparks. I want to fall for a man that makes me wet just thinking of him.” Erica paused and took another drink of wine. She was drunk but she didn’t care at this point. She looked up Garg again as she did the math. The wine she had consumed earlier, while preparing for Frank’s arrival along with the glass of wine during dinner and this third glass was her undoing. She realized, it might be her fourth or fifth glass. She lost count. No matter she thought, and finished the thought out loud “Who's counting? But when did I become such a cheap drunk?”
“You know what, Garg? You are ugly as fuck. You are the strong silent type. I would probably fuck you before I fucked a guy like Frank. Sure, you might have a little demon in you, and those wings would definitely get in the way, but you got a ripped body and certain intensity to you. I’ll bet you would be a beast in bed, you big ol’ stone stud you. Heck, you are up here every night watching me, and according to the Internet, watching over me. Gargoyles are great at warding off evil spirits. If the big, bad vampires don’t kill me, because they are afraid of you ... well that is kind of sexy. I should thank you. Thank you, Garg!”
Erica swallowed the rest of her wine. “See, there is totally something wrong with me, a nice guy kisses me and I freak out. Yet here I am fantasizing about having sex with an ugly, half-demon stone sculpture. I am totally messed up. I am grabbing another glass of wine and having a bath. Good night, Garg,” Erica said, as she made her way back into the house. Her balance was a little tipsy. Her nightly conversation with Garg had not had the desired calming effect she needed. She was just as confused as she had been before the one-way conversation, and on her way to a massive hangover. Oh God! She closed the garden doors to the balcony. Did I really say I would fuck a gargoyle? She pressed her hot forehead against the cold glass of the doors. It didn’t help with sobriety. She looked at the bottle in her hand and groaned. It was empty. A few minutes later, so was her stomach as she gave up her offering to the porcelain god.
...
Dante listened to Erica, as he always did. She was an intelligent woman, but she over thought things. Even Dante, in his stone state, could tell that Erica wasn’t crazy. She was extremely intuitive. She just needed to trust her own instincts more. As for Frank, if Frank did not stir her desires, then having him over for dinner was pointless. She needed a man who fueled her desires, made her think of the future, and not dwell on the past. It appeared to Dante that Erica was well on her way to moving past the death of her Jack. She was already starting to analyze the union she had with Jack, and to see that while she had loved her husband, he was not a perfect husband in many ways. Once Erica accepted that, it was okay to move on, she would be fine. Women were resilient. He had watched them for centuries, dallied with many, but none ever came close to his heart, after his first heartbreak.
What intrigued Dante most was her comments regarding him. It was interesting that she could see past his demonic features and remember that he was a man. It wasn’t the first time he had heard a woman comment on his stone form sexually, but it was the first time in a long time that he found the woman attractive. He liked strong, intelligent woman. He didn’t want to invest emotionally in a woman who would run at the first sign of adversity. He still dreamed of meeting a woman that could accept him as a protector and a lover. He had found women interested in his human form often enough. Finding one that could accept his dual role, as man and protector was difficult, if not impossible. Dante held little hope that Erica might be that type of woman. He had all but given up looking for a soul mate. He wished Erica luck with finding a soul mate. He was about to turn his thoughts away from her and focus on guarding his domain, when he allowed himself one more thought about the woman. She is going to have one hell of a headache in the morning.
12
Serena entered the boardroom and stood in a corner, waiting for Vladimir to finish with the meeting he was conducting. He had summoned her back to London from America, where she had been working behind the political scenes to get key legislations changed. She had no idea why the government affairs of America affected the vampire council, but she did know well enough not to question orders. Vladimir was not the type of leader that suffered fools or those who asked questions. Serena did as she was told and she did it well.
There were six vampires sitting at the boardroom table, plus Vladimir. They were all senior members of the corporation and all very old, the youngest being just shy of six hundred years. They were going over some final planning regarding the plan to take over the human world.
Their contact in Unreha assured them that they considered vampires part of the human world and as such they wouldn’t interfere. That had been a huge potential roadblock to Vladimir Ruton’s plans. Unreha was home to powerful magical beings, fae, draia, the elves, all sorts of other dangerous creatures that could give vampires a run for their money. Without their interference all they had to worry about was the humans and the paranormals who already lived on earth.
Right now, the members of the corporation were finishing up a discussion about the elimination of nuclear weapons, the biggest threat in humankind’s arsenal to the council’s plans. Serena waited until the last of the six vampires left before approaching the table.
“Have a seat, Serena.” Vladimir gestured to a chair without looking up from the report he was reading.
She sat down and waited long minutes before Vladimir put the report down and fixed his cold gray eyes on her. “Serena, do you know why I called you back?”
She shook her head, disconcerted by the sudden directness of his gaze. Serena had an idea but kept it to herself. “No, but it must have been important to call me back to London. I wasn’t done securing the necessary votes.”
“I have other agents in Washington, the vote will pass. We have more pressing needs here. I have decided it is time to implement V-day protocols.”
Serena was careful to keep her face neutral. She had reservations about the plan, but she knew what happened to dissidents and she was keen to keep her head exactly where it was, attached to her neck. “Very well, sir. What do you need me to do?”
“You’ll coordinate our scouts, and kill-teams in North and South America.” Vladimir slid the report over in front of Serena. “The list of targets is in the report. Kill the human and then move on to the shifters and vampires who are sympathetic to humans. Many of the shifters on the list may start disappearing into the shadows on their own. They will realize the significance of the human deaths and will separate themselves from their previous opinions. Let them go into hiding. Focus on those who openly hold us in opposition.” Vladimir slid the report over to Serena.
Serena frowned as she read the report. It wasn’t just a report but a kill list. “Why kill the human first? Shouldn’t we worry about the hard targets first?”
“No. I want her dead. Her husband was a thorn in our side too long, and the mere fact that she is still alive means we aren’t done with him. I want her dead. Already our people have failed to accomplish this. That is why I’m putting you in charge.”
“I’ll put a team together.” Serena knew the human would die easy enough, all humans did. But her late husband had powerful allies, and it was possible that those allies were why the woman was still alive. It was something to consider. Flipping through the list, Serena caught her breath; the list of human, shifters, and vampires was extensive. And it contained many she knew, some intimately. “So many vampires,” she commented.
Vladimir slammed his hand down on the desk, causing Serena to flinch. “So many human-loving vampires, you mean. They treat humans li
ke equals instead of like cattle. It’s fine to raise a human like a pet and kill it when it is fully ready to be eaten, but to walk among them like they are your equals is blasphemy,” said Vladimir with venom. “The rule of humans is coming to an end, Serena. V-day protocol will put the world into a post-apocalypse state. We’ll rule this earth the way we were meant to.”
Serena bowed her head. Vladimir was a fanatic. He had spent hundreds of years organizing his plan, placing vampire spies in every world government, organizing shell corporations and manipulating markets to build the capital necessary to fulfill his plans. For centuries he had waited and organized, and now he was ready. The thought scared Serena. She was not a natural born vampire, she had been turned, and though that was nearly one hundred years ago, she still harbored human feelings for her old family and friends, despite them being dead for years now. She hunted and killed humans so she could feed, but she had serious reservations about the mass murders the council was proposing. What Vladimir wanted to accomplish would kill millions, perhaps billions, in order to reestablish society with vampires at the top of the food chain. The world would be forever changed and she was part of the plan whether she liked it or not. And despite the fact she personally knew many of the vampires on the list, she would do as she was told.
13
Erica woke up feeling more than a little hungover. Her heartbeat felt like a drum in her head. She did not want to move even her eyelids. She forced herself out of bed. Erica thought back to the previous day’s date with Frank. What a disaster! Her head ached. She felt stupid. Poor Frank. She groaned, grabbed a toothbrush, and tried to get rid of the awful taste and fuzzy mouth feeling. She examined her face in the mirror. She had learned something about herself. It occurred to her that she knew what she wanted and didn’t want. First of all, she did not want to finish a bottle of wine off by herself, never, ever again. Second, she was not going to settle for anything less than a soul mate who could match her passion. She wanted a soul mate that would complete her, not subdue her spirit, or be paternal. If it took forever, so be it. Looking at other marriages, she felt grateful to have experienced the level of love and happiness she had shared with Jack. There was no hurry. Being alone did not mean she had to be lonely.
Poor Frank, she thought again. She would apologize, as an apology was due, but he did not stand a chance. He would never find her bed, or heart. Erica looked at her red eyes. It was time for a shower, coffee, and some Advil.
She trudged her way to the kitchen and poured herself a tall glass of water, and then another. She knew from experience that wine hangovers were the worse. Something to do with the tannins a co-worker who fancied himself a wine expert had told her. Whatever the reason, she had a full-on case of make the pain go away. She started searching for some aspirin.
...
“Jeffery, when are you going to town again?” Erica asked. Staying at home was once again starting to feel stifling. She needed another trip among the masses to remind her of the virtues of solitude. That and new shoes always made her feel better. Nothing like a little retail therapy to cure the solitude blues.
“I am going to the city this afternoon. Did you need something?” asked Jeffery.
“I want to come with you. I am getting bored again. I would like to do some shopping.”
“Okay, I suppose that won’t be an issue. I’ll let Dexter’s people know we are coming to town. I had arranged for a couple shifters to watch over the place while I was gone, but if you are coming they can shadow us in the city. That will save them a trip out here and make our trip a little more secure,” Jeffery said.
Erica had not thought about the security aspects of Jeffery going to town, or her going with him. However, Jeffery didn’t seem too concerned and had a plan in place, so in theory she would be perfectly safe venturing into the city. “Excellent, when do you want to leave?”
Jeffery shrugged, “We can leave whenever you are ready. I’ll call Dexter and let him know the new plan.”
“I’ll go get changed, and then we can leave,” Erica said.
After taking a few minutes to freshen up and change, Erica headed downstairs and joined Jeffery who was waiting patiently in the car.
As they moved closer into the city, Jeffery spoke up, “I agreed to bring you, but now we need to talk about protocols. If I am going to keep you safe in the city, you need to follow instructions.”
Erica glanced over at Jeffery as he drove, “I’m all ears. Tell me what you want me to do.”
“Just stay near me. Always be within eyesight of me. If you are separated from me for any more than a couple seconds, get your phone and use speed dial number one.”
Erica reached into her purse, she checked her new phone. There were two numbers on the speed dial setting. “Whose numbers are these?” she asked.
“The first number is mine, and the second is Dexter’s. My number is set up so that if you phone me, and I don’t answer, it will automatically go to the shifters who are watching us. I don’t expect you’ll ever need to call, but it’s better to be over cautious than to end up as a disposable bag of blood for a vampire.”
“Lovely thought,” Erica said, as she had a flashback to finding her dead husband’s body. As cold as it sounded, her husband’s body could well have been described that way. What she found was not her husband, but a used-up body, drained of its life and vitality. Yes, becoming a disposable bag of blood was not a desirable outcome. “I will do exactly as you say,” Erica said.
Jeffery, sensing that his comments about vampires had caused some discomfort, apologized. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me.”
“No, it is okay. I’m past falling apart every time I think about Jack’s death. You were trying to make a point. I understand.”
Jeffery gave a small grunt in relief.
“Just so you know, Jeff, I do plan on shopping for shoes and I will be checking out the Victoria Secrets store, so you will have to suffer through my shopping habits.”
Jeffery glanced over at Erica, “I am sure it will be a most exciting afternoon.” His voice dripped with acidic sarcasm.
Erica smiled to herself. She, at least, would have a good afternoon.
14
“How much shopping can one person do?” Jeffery asked.
Erica laughed. They had spent the better half of the day shopping. She had made Jeffery critique every outfit she tried on. At first, she had barely been able to get more than a grunt out of him. But, as the day went on and he realized he was getting asked no matter how he responded, he gave in and attempted to be helpful. When he wanted, Jeffery was actually rather helpful. He pointed out several things about color choices and style that she had not considered.
“I could shop for hours more,” Erica declared, “But sadly, the mall is closing soon. I’m afraid your torture has come to an end.”
Jeffery looked relieved. “Home then?” he asked.
“Actually, I have one more stop I want to make. Don’t be offended, I think you are an amazing cook, but since we are in the city, I want to go to my favorite restaurant for dinner.”
Jeffery laughed, “Thank God. I’m starving. Where do you want to go?”
“Ming’s on 7th. They have the best chicken chow mein, sweet and sour pork, ginger chicken, and yummy egg rolls,” answered Erica.
The drive from the mall to Ming’s was relatively short. It did not take long before they were lined up at the buffet.
Erica watched in amazement as Jeffery devoured his meal. Plate after plate of the rich and savory Chinese food disappeared into his belly.
Jeffery noticed her watching, “What?” he asked.
“You must have been very hungry. You are eating an exceptional amount of food.”
Between bites Jeffery said, “A bear’s got to eat. Normally, I eat human-sized meals, just more frequently. Today, with all the shopping, I had to skip a couple of those meals. Besides, you were correct. They have excellent food.”
With amusement Erica said, “S
orry, I didn’t know you had a bear’s appetite. I am still learning about shifters.”
“It’s okay. I don’t suffer by not eating often, but I do need to eat more. Buffet was an excellent choice.”
Yes, Ming’s had been an excellent choice. It had been one of hers and Jack’s favorite places to eat. Erica enjoyed the pleasant memories that filled her brain, memories of the happy times. Her marriage to Jack had not been perfect. It had been filled with challenges, but it certainly had its share of good memories. She was glad to be here.
Jeffery slid his plate towards the middle of the table, finally signaling an end to his impressive display of eating. “We should get going.” Jeffery pulled out his phone and started texting.
“Letting our shadow leave?” Erica asked.
“Yes. We are going directly home now. The shifters tailing us can stay in the city. We should be fine.”
After paying the bill, they jumped back in the car and started back out into the country.
Erica felt slightly bloated. Her eyes had been bigger than her stomach. She watched the city lights drift past her, as they made their escape from the city. She let her eyes slowly close, as she drifted off into a food-induced nap.
15
Erica woke from her nap and looked out the car window. She’d always been one to sleep in cars, sometimes she felt like it was easier to fall asleep in a car than a bed. Thankfully, she never had the urge while driving. But as a passenger? Lights out.
