gleamed and the glass
surfaces of the tables and the windows all sparkled. He dropped his bag
immediately and looked around the familiar room, “Whoa…” he mouthed, not seeing
it this way since his own arrival there many months before.
“Yes, it’s quite amazing, isn’t it?” Beatriz
said. Sonya gave a respectful nod to the woman, and immediately made her way to
her own room, leaving Taylor gazing at her. She stood by the window, feeding
Montezuma a plump red grape. Her dark hair was long and smooth, and her skin the
same warm caramel color it always was, but her eyes seemed to have a light in
them he’d never noticed before. After not seeing her for a few days, her beauty
suddenly was almost overwhelming to him. She raised an eyebrow and shut the door
of the cage, walking slowly towards him. “Thank you Taylor,” she said softly,
“and you are looking lovely this evening as well.” She smiled as she reached
him and placed her hand on his cheek, “However, your thoughts should be kept to
yourself, no matter how flattering to an old woman.”
“I think I just had this conversation about 30
seconds ago, and you are far from an old woman.” He said, kissing her hand.
Again, she smiled and he pulled her closer,
placing his hands on her hips. For the first time in many years, she felt
something for the man in front of her. She’d put her trust in them before and
had always ended up sorry for her troubles. Taylor though, seemed different.
He treated her with respect, but not condescendingly as most of the males did.
He didn’t seem to want anything from her. He didn’t seem to fear her, though he
should have. She didn’t quite know what to make of him. Slowly, he placed his
lips upon hers and gave her a tender kiss. When he pulled back again, his eyes
glittered, “Did you miss me?” He said, with a wry smile.
“No.” She said. “In fact, we threw a huge
party here because you were finally gone.” She said haughtily.
“Did it turn into a vicious orgy with blood on
the floor and naked bodies all over the place?” He asked, a lewd expression
taking over his face.
“Yes!” She said, her eyes widening, “And we
were all arrested, and Mr. Jones had to come and bail us all out at great
expense before sunrise!”
Laughing, he backed away from her, “Oh, I’m
sorry I missed that. Maybe we could do it all again next weekend.” He said,
and he plopped down on the couch.
Beatriz looked at him. As usual, he was
handsome and charming, but he had that tiny bit of sadness always in his eyes.
“How was your trip?” She asked, sitting down beside him.
Gently, he picked up her hand in his and looked
at it as he spoke, “It was okay.”
“Did you get to see your family?” She asked,
watching his face.
“Yeah. They were all doing good.” He said, linking his
fingers in hers and still not looking at her face.
Beatriz found herself in a very awkward place,
between feeling motherly because he was obviously upset and still missing his
family after all this time, and an overwhelming attraction to him that was
altogether un-motherly. “Well,” she said, scooting closer to him, “I’m
glad all is well with them, but I’m sorry you’re not happy here with us.”
“I’m happy.” He said, but he wasn’t convincing
at all, especially since she could read his mind most of the time.
She took his chin and turned his face toward her
own, “Is there anything I could do to make it better for you?”
“Can you make me human again?” He asked, his
eyes finally meeting hers.
Beatriz sighed, “You know the answer to that. I
would if I could though, I swear it.” She looked at him closely, “Besides,
you’re extremely human as it is.” She leaned back against the pillow and
continued to look at him “All your problems stem from that.”
Taylor turned his head and returned her gaze,
“What problems? I think most of my problems stem from being killed, first by
Sonya, and then by you.”
Beatriz sighed, “Are we going to bring that up
again?” She said, half-joking. “You know we both had reasons for what we did.”
Taylor rolled his eyes, “Yeah, I know, I know…” he said.
Sonya stepped into the room then, her bag thrown over her shoulder, “I’m going
out. Do either of you need to go grab some chow?” She asked, pushing the
button on the elevator.
Beatriz looked at Taylor, “No, I’m good for a while, I think.” He said, looking
over at the beautiful woman next to him. Beatriz smiled.
Sonya shook her head and stepped into the elevator, punching her floor on the
panel and leaving the two of them alone in the apartment.
“Where’s Mr. Jones?” Taylor asked, turning toward her.
“Out.” She replied.
“What about everybody else?” He asked, scooting closer to her. She raised an
eyebrow and nodded her head. “Very nice…” he said, getting up on his knees and
leaning over her reclining form.
“Yes, it is.” She said softly.
He reached up to touch the hair by her face, “What did you do to your hair?
It’s all…straight.”
“Do you like it?” She asked, looking up at him and running her hands up his
sides and onto his shoulders.
“Well,” he said, looking away from her eyes, “I always like it, but it looks
pretty like this.” He then looked back at her face, “So, you didn’t miss me.
Not even a little?” He said, dropping down onto his elbows and placing a tiny
kiss on her chin.
“Maybe just a little.” She said, smiling down at him.
His eyes lit up a little and he cocked his head, “I knew it! You think I’m
hot.” He accused.
Beatriz laughed, “Ten million teen-aged girls can’t be all wrong!” She said,
pulling him closer. Their lips met in a gentle kiss that turned urgent very
quickly. Taylor found himself lying on top of her, the smell of her becoming
more tantalizing by the second.
“I think it was more like ten thousand, and that was in ’97.” He muttered, as
he worked his way down her chin to her throat. She could feel his heart pumping
faster and she knew if he opened his eyes they’d have the shine.
“Details.” She replied, feeling his cool fingers on the buttons of her blouse.
When he pushed the silky material away, he gasped, “Oh god, that is just…whoa..”
Beatriz smiled. She’d known when she’d purchased the soft, black lacy bra that
Taylor would love it. It wasn’t often they got that intimate, but she had a
feeling when he got back from Tulsa, he’d need something to take his mind off
his sorrows. And so, she was prepared to do whatever it took. It was just an
added bonus that she’d found herself as excited to see him as he was to see
her. And very rare. “Do you like it?” She asked, watching his face.
When he spoke, she saw his teeth, long and white and signaling his arousal to
her even more than the hardness she felt through his pants. “Yeah…” he
breathed. She smiled again at his lack of words, totally unlike him. She
watched him throw his head back and felt him trying to calm himself. But, she
didn’t want him calm, she wanted him excited to see and be with her. She
reached up and placed her hands on his belt, her long fingers pulling the buckle
undone. The sound caused him to look down at her, his eyes a little less
bright. “What are you doing?” He asked.
“I’m about to have my way with you.” She said, with a wink.
Taylor smiled, “Man, I must be getting hot. First Sonya, and now you.” He
teased.
Beatriz raised an eyebrow, “Oh, you and Sonya, eh? Would you like to tell me
all about that?” She asked, and she pulled the leather strip out of his belt
loops with a snap.
“Well, actually, she was just trying to get some information out of me.” He
said sheepishly.
Now the smile lit up her face again, “Oh, Taylor, I’m so proud of you! You were
able to shield your thoughts from her!” She said, tossing the belt aside.
Taylor grinned, “Yeah, I guess I was…” he said, leaning down and kissing her
chest. As he placed his hands on her, suddenly, he found his wrists pulled
together, his own belt pulled tight and binding them. Beatriz flipped him over
onto his back on the opposite end of the couch and straddled him, pulling his
arms up over his head. His surprise was great as he looked up into her dark
eyes. As the light flickered off them, he watched her close them and open her
mouth to show her own fangs. “What are you doing!?” He asked, a little
alarmed.
Now she looked down at him, “I told you. I’m having my way with you.”
“You know,” he said, “I could break out of that any time I want to.” He wasn’t
sure whether he was extremely turned on, or extremely frightened.
She looked at him, her eyes taking on a slight golden hue, “You won’t want to…”
she said, leaning down and smelling him.
“Um, isn’t this like, against the law or something?” He asked nervously, never
having seen her in quite the light he was seeing her now. Her hair was sleek
and straight, making it longer than usual. She wore only the black, see through
bra, and a pair of blue jeans.
She shook her head at him and looked into his now very blue eyes, “I can do
whatever the fuck I want.” She said. He watched as the coffee table suddenly
slid across the floor towards his head, making him flinch as it stopped just
before hitting the couch where he lay.
His eyes widened as she pulled the end of the belt around the leg of the heavy
table, pulling his arms even farther above him. She then reached down and
unzipped his pants, and pulled them off him, tossing them on the floor.
~~~~~
The wind had begun to blow and Sonya sniffed the air, knowing a storm was
coming. Her skirt whipped around her legs as she walked. She was hungry, but
so far, she hadn’t passed anyone that looked appetizing to her. Passing store
windows, she admired the new fashions there, wondering if she’d have any place
to wear the long, black velvety dress she saw. As her eyes took in every tiny
bead or bit of embroidery, her ears took in the sounds around her and her nose
broke down every scent. A man walked past her, needing a bath, obviously, from
the body odor she smelled. Another passed, who’d had too much to drink. A
couple women wearing too much cologne; and finally a middle-aged man, probably
just having eaten a late dinner from the smell of something spicy he emitted.
She turned and followed him silently, looking for just the right spot to pull
him in and have her own late supper.
~~~~~
Beatriz’ hips moved in a smooth, sensual fashion
reminding Taylor of some exotic dancer in a movie he and his brothers had
watched on pay per view in a hotel, ages ago. Or at least, it seemed like
ages. In reality, it had been less than a year ago. He could count on one hand
the amount of times he’d had sex, and if this turned out to be his last, he knew
he’d die a happy man. This was a woman with four hundred years’ experience, and
it showed.
Looking down at the boy underneath her, Beatriz watched tiny beads of sweat
gather on his upper lip and at his hairline. Any human male would have been
dripping already. Still, she could sense his body working up to the tiny
explosion she knew was coming. His heartbeat had sped up, his blood was
coursing through his limbs and causing his face to flush. His breath was coming
in great gasps, words spilling from his lips when they had the chance; “Oh,
god…I need my hands…I want to touch you…” He said, his eyes pleading with her.
She made no move to release his hands, only continued her movements, driving him
to the brink of something he’d never experienced. As his body moved under her,
preparing for the release that was finally coming, he threw his head back, his
voice now a primal sounding thing rather than the melodic one she was accustomed
to, but most enticing to her was the sight of the pale throat, glistening with
his sweat now, and the blood running through it. She watched the silver cross
rise with his chest and the tiny ruby caught the light above them in a show of
red fire. She felt his muscles stiffen and without a thought, she leaned in and
pressed her fangs against the smooth skin. As he released his now infertile
seed into her in a fury of sound and thrust, she plunged her fangs deep into his
neck, and allowed herself to partake of the same forbidden elixir she’d given
him months previous. Sex to her had become a means to an end; a way to get
victims to willingly allow her to get close enough to them to take their
precious blood. It was the blood itself that brought her pleasure, and the
taking of it. Even still, it had been a long while since she’d let herself
really experience it.
~~~~~
Sonya stepped into the dim room and looked at the faces there. Some she knew
better than others, but as usual, she saw no strangers to her. The Living End
was fairly crowded for a week night, its popularity growing as word got around
that something was happening in the nocturnal world of vampires. Her presence
was duly noted as the very young stepped back a little and the older ones nodded
out of respect. “Hey, Sam.” She said walking up towards the bar.
“Sonya.” He said, and he handed her a glass of water.
“So, what’s been going on since I’ve been gone?” She asked, turning to face the
various tables and booths.
“Nothing out of the ordinary.” He said, wiping the bar.
“No visits from anyone interesting?” She said, her eyes sliding over to meet
his.
“If you mean…higher-ups…no, they been pretty quiet.” He said, tossing the rag
in the little sink behind the bar. “Where’s the young prince been lately?” He
asked. “If you don’t mind me asking. He’d been coming around pretty regular
for a while there.”
Sonya shook her head, “Are some of them still calling him that?” She said,
taking a drink and setting the glass back down.
“Well, yeah.” He reasoned. “Since he’s the Lady Beatriz’ boy now, that’s what
he is.”
She raised one eyebrow, “I thought Roberto didn’t like the idea of a
hierarchy.”
The man looked around nervously, then leaned in toward her, “I think it’s out of
his hands now. They want what they want, and they think Taylor’s the one to
give it to them.” He looked into her eyes, and quietly stated, “You can’t take
back that little display he made in here.”
Sonya didn’t say anything, she just looked back at him for a moment, then back
again to the others in the bar. The trivial little squabbles they’d all had
before seemed to be forgotten as they all dreamed about whatever it was they
wanted out of this “war” they were going to wage on the elders. Picking up her
glass, she quietly went and sat at a small table, as far away as she could get
from the crowd. Her head was swimming with all the things that could go wrong.
And she knew that Taylor would pay dearly if the plan went awry.
~~~~~
Melanie stepped into Beatriz’ apartment, her nose telling her Taylor and Sonya
had returned. Indeed, draped across the chair she saw his jacket and Sonya’s
backpack. A few steps more and her eyes widened. There on the floor, Taylor
lay, his hands pulled above his head, and bound to the coffee table. She wasn’t
certain of it, but it looked to her like blood stained his neck, but there were
no marks on him whatsoever. His clothes were lying on the floor next to him.
For a moment, she wondered if he were dead, his breathing not discernable to her
in the least. “Melanie—” Beatriz walked into the room, fastening a large gold
hoop earring.
“Jesus Christ! You scared me!” Melanie spat, her hand going to her heart.
Beatriz stepped over Taylor’s body and picked up his shirt, dropping it down
onto him, covering his nakedness. “Have you fed yet?” She asked casually, not
seeming to notice the nude boy lying on the floor between them.
Melanie glanced down at Taylor, then back up to her, “Um, is he alright?”
Without a look to him, Beatriz raised an eyebrow, “Of course he is. Have you
fed?”
“Well, no. I came back to get a jacket, it’s starting to rain and I don’t want
to ruin my blouse.” Melanie answered.
“Excellent. Take him with you please.” Beatriz stated, then she stepped over
to the elevator and pressed the button.
“He’s naked!” Melanie exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips.
She was met with black eyes, “Then you will dress him.” She said, leaving no
room for argument. The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped inside,
leaving the two alone in the apartment.
Melanie looked down at Taylor, then over at the clock. It was past midnight
now. No time to spare for she or Taylor, since both of them were extremely
sensitive to the sunlight. “Man, I can’t believe I have to dress you, you
asshole.” She muttered. Then, thinking better of it, she kicked him. “Get up,
and get dressed! We’re going to the park!”
Other than his eyes fluttering open, Taylor didn’t seem to notice the Doc Marten
boot so rudely battering his backside. “What?” He said, his voice weak
sounding.
“Get your ass up, Beatriz wants you to feed. I don’t feel like going anywhere,
it’s raining. So, we’re just gonna hop over to the park and find somebody and
get back here, alright?” She leaned in close to him, “I don’t know what you did
up here, and I don’t wanna know, but you better watch your ass. The elders
wouldn’t like the thought of you and Beatriz…exchanging fluids, if you catch my
drift.”
Taylor started to sit up, then realized he was still attached to the table.
“Untie me.” He said.
Melanie snorted. “You’re kidding, right?” She plopped down on the couch, “If
you’re gonna be my king, you better be able to untie yourself after a little
kinky sex with your queen.”
Immediately, the belt loosened and he pulled his hands free, rubbing his
wrists. “I guess sometimes I forget I can do that.” He said, pulling his jeans
over.
Melanie rolled her eyes, “You better not forget. And you better not let the
elders know you can do it at all. They’d be eating Taylor brains for lunch.”
Taylor wrinkled up his face, “Do you mind?”
“Well, you may as well face it. You’re gonna end up on their most wanted list
and you know it.” She said, kicking his shoe over to him. “And hurry the hell
up, I’m hungry.”
Taylor stood up. “I’m not bein’ anybody’s “king” and I’m not messing with the
elders, they won’t even know I’m alive.” He said, zipping up his pants, then
pulling the shirt on over his head.
“TOO LATE!” She said, loudly, causing Taylor to stop and look at her. “You
should have thought about that before you blasted your way out of that coffin.”
He gave her a disgusted look, “No, YOU should have thought about that before you
let them lock me in it.”
“I didn’t LET them do anything. They do what they do.” She said, kicking the
other shoe at him and smiling as it smacked his shin.
“Well, you shouldn’t have taken me in there in the first place—” he started.
“Waaaaaaugh!” She mocked him. “You big baby. Get over it.” She said,
standing up and grabbing his arm. “Here, take your jacket, it’s raining.”
~~~~~
Sonya still sat in the back of the bar, in the dark shadows of the place,
watching. A very elegant looking woman, her blonde hair pulled back tightly in
a bun stood at the bar next to a boyish looking 72 year old, talking quietly.
By the old jukebox, a dark haired man of 54, who would appear to be 25 to a
human gazed at the song titles, deciding which decade’s music he longed to
hear. The bar was full of people of every imaginable age, skill, and
personality. As the door swung open, her eyes went to it to see Kirk enter, a
rather excited air about him. She sent out a signal to him that she was there
and she watched as his eyes darted her way. He then looked around him before
striding over to her. “Good. You’re back. I need to talk to you.” He said,
his calm words barely covering the urgent feel of them.
“Why? What’s going on?” She asked, her senses firing.
His eyes again went around the room, “Not here.” He said softly.
“Alright.” She said, standing. She knew that Kirk didn’t do dramatics unless
it was for real. “Where to?” She asked as they stepped out the door.
“Let’s just walk a little ways…” he said, and he looked around again as if he
were expecting to be followed, or overheard. As they walked, Sonya attempted to
get into his mind, but whatever it was, he felt strongly enough about it to keep
it to himself.
“Where are we going?” she asked. The wind had picked up and she found her hair
blowing in every direction.
Kirk turned to her and said quietly, “My place.”
~~~~~
Taylor and Melanie stepped out of the building and quickly made their way to the
park. A misty rain had begun to fall about them causing those walking past them
to hurry their steps to get where they were going before an all out storm came.
Stopping at the entrance to the park, Melanie looked up at Taylor. The lights
overhead reflecting in the tiny drops of water in his hair made it look like he
was wearing a halo. Yet, the shine in his hungry eyes let her know there was
nothing angelic about him. “So, what’s the plan?” She asked.
Blood loss had not only made him hungry, but had also given him a slightly
drunken feeling. “Food.”
“That’s the plan?” Melanie smiled. “I like it.” And with that, they turned
and went off the path that led into the park, and into the trees and the cover
they would give them.
~~~~~
Kirk quietly unlocked the door to his apartment. It was small, just two rooms
and a bathroom, but it was plenty for him. It housed his clothes, his bed, his
guitars, a big screen TV and a large collection of movies and music. Other than
blood, it was all he needed. Sonya watched him step into the room and look
around. “Kirk, what the heck is this all about?” She asked.
Turning, he put his finger to his lips to shush her, then pulled her in and shut
the door behind them with a gentle click. Whispering, he spoke, “I gotta show
you something.” And he pulled her toward the bedroom.
The room was dark, but light from the city outside it’s windows made the details
easily observed by Sonya’s vampire eyes. Furrowing her brow, she gazed at the
figure in the bed, her mind going out to the person and seeking. Sleep veiled
the thoughts from her, yet one tiny thing made itself clear to her. She was
female and she was pregnant. The second heartbeat strong enough to tell her she
was very pregnant. Her eyes narrowed, she turned back to Kirk and backed
out of the room, closing the door. “What is this about? Are you getting odd in
your old age?”
Kirk shook his head, “Don’t you recognize her?”
Sonya raised her eyebrows waiting for him to tell her who
this mystery woman was and when he didn’t she huffed, “Do you want me to go in
there and turn on the light and wake her? I could probably tell you if I could
see her face.”
“It’s Michelle.” He said. When Sonya didn’t react, it was
his turn to lose his patience. “Taylor’s Michelle.” He placed his hands
on his hips.
Sonya wrinkled her face, “Really?” She said, stepping
toward the couch. She sat down and looked back at him, “Well, what are you
doing with her?” She smiled, “Do you think he’ll be jealous when he sees her?
Because she’s obviously moved past her little thing with him.”
Kirk moved over and sat next to her. “No, she hasn’t.
Except for the fact that she believes he’s dead.” Sonya watched Kirk’s face,
trying to figure out what he was getting at. His dark eyes were serious,
“Sonya, that’s Taylor’s baby.”
Now Sonya almost laughed at him, finding it hard to believe
he’d gotten himself so worked up. “That’s not possible, Kirk, and you know it.”
Kirk stood, his anger beginning to show, “It is possible.
It’s happened. I don’t know how, but it has. And we’ve got a little problem on
our hands here, in case you can’t grasp that.”
Now he had her attention. Something had caused him to
believe it. “What makes you think it’s Taylor’s. She could have been with any
number of men.”
“She wasn’t.” He said. “Look, I don’t have all that freaky
psychic shit like you all do, but when I feel it, I feel it. She’s not lying.
He’s the only guy she’s ever been with. Like I said, I don’t know the how’s or
the why’s—but, it’s happened.”
“Kirk,” she said, standing, “if you’re right…” she stopped.
Kirk stepped over close to her, “If I’m right, she is gonna
be the biggest target this city’s ever seen. Taylor’s gonna want her and any
plans anybody may have had for him are gonna fly out the window. Beatriz, who
knows? She might want to treat her like a princess, or she might want her
executed immediately. Camille will want her for lunch, and dinner and desert.
The elders will want her for all sorts of reasons I don’t even want to think
about. This is a fucking tiger we’ve got by the tail, and I don’t know what to
do with it. Not only all that, but she’s a sweet girl with a baby on the way,
and no where to go.”
“What’s she doing here? Where did you find her?” Sonya
asked, her mind spinning wildly.
“She was outside at that stinkin’ hotel all the fans still
flock to. It’s like the Hanson version of Strawberry Fields. Don’t any of you
ever pay attention to what’s going on?” he spat.
Sonya gave him a glare, “I’m sorry if Beatriz has me doing
way too many things at once to stroll past the Trump. Besides, doesn’t she have
a home?”
“She said her folks threw her out and she didn’t know where
else to go. She has friends that hang around there and stuff and she was hoping
to run into some of ‘em.” He answered.
Sonya stood, watching him for a moment and thinking, before
she answered. “Who all knows about this?”
“Just you and me.” He said.
“Well, I’m going to get Mr. Jones over here—” she started.
“He’ll tell Beatriz! You know he will!” Kirk exclaimed.
Sonya sighed, “I just can’t believe this. Are you
absolutely, and I mean absolutely, positive of this, Kirk? How do you know she
wasn’t raped and just doesn’t remember it? I mean, anything could have
happened.”
“It didn’t. You’ll see. You’ll feel it stronger than me,
because you are Taylor’s sire. I know it sounds corny, but, he’s in there.
You’ll feel it.” He said with conviction.
Sonya stood for a moment, silently grasping what she was
hearing. As much as she knew Taylor couldn’t father a child, she also knew
there were other things he shouldn’t have been capable of that he did. Finally,
she turned to Kirk, “Do you truly think Beatriz would want to kill her? Because
if you do, then I think you are fighting for the wrong side here.”
“I can’t imagine that she would, but, she’s old Sonya.
Sometimes, she does things that are a little off the wall and you know it.”
Kirk answered.
“Yes, but I still can’t imagine her killing a pregnant girl.
No matter who’s baby she’s carrying.” She said. “Plus, unless we just fall off
the face of the earth, she’ll know what we know. She seldom lets on, but I know
that she pretty much knows whatever we know.”
Kirk smiled for the first time since she’d seen him walk in,
“Can you clarify that for me? It sounded like a tongue twister.”
“I don’t need to clarify, you understand or you wouldn’t be
all covert and secret here.” Sonya replied.
With a sigh, he sat back down again, “Yeah, I know. You’re
right. She’ll know anyway, so we might as well tell her. Maybe she’ll know
what to do.”
Sonya crossed her arms over her chest, “Kirk, you’re taking a
trip tomorrow night. Get yourself a change of clothes. Maybe a couple. You’re
going to Tulsa.”
~~~~~
Melanie looked over at her hunting companion. It wasn’t
often that Taylor and she went out together, but when they did, it was nearly
always a treat. Taylor, for all his humanity that seemed to hang on, was a very
skilled hunter when he had to be. He was fast and his mental abilities let him
choose his victims as wisely as any of the females. A drop of water hung
precariously from the end of his nose, combining with his stillness to give him
the appearance of a finely sculpted statue. Melanie smiled, thinking a pigeon
on his shoulder would complete the picture. Two men had passed a few minutes
earlier, and while she would have just grabbed one and made off with him, Taylor
wanted to wait. Perhaps he picked up on some substance in their blood he didn’t
like, or the smell of clothing worn too many days. With Taylor, you never knew
what turned him off. “Are we gonna sit out here all night?” She asked. “I’d
think you’d need to replace some of that blood you lost tonight.”
Still no movement from him, except for his lips, wet from the
rain, “I didn’t lose any blood tonight.”
Melanie rolled her eyes, “Fine, whatever you say.”
Now she was met with blue eyes, glinting with the collected
light of the moon overhead and the bright lights of the city that never sleeps.
“That’s against the law.” He said, looking into her tawny eyes, also alight
with the thrill of the hunt.
“Oh, don’t I know it.” She said, knowing the both of them
had broken those old, time-honored laws. She watched his nostrils flare
suddenly, and she knew someone would be coming down the path they watched any
moment now.
Taylor turned his head, sniffing the air for the scent that
had been there. There was more than one—one was a female or a male who liked to
wear women’s perfume. In New York, you just never knew until you saw them.
Scents could be deceiving. Searching the area in front of him, Taylor now saw
three young men and a woman coming down the path. His ears told him they were
looking for a quiet place. They were taking turns. Melanie watched as one of
Taylor’s perfect eyebrows arched; he liked what he saw. This was it. Before
she had a moment to react he was no longer by her side. He had sprung over the
small bushes and brush in front of them and was closing in on his prey. She
laughed as she watched him. The way his long legs carried him, she was reminded
of a cheetah. Standing, she watched him as he’d made a misstep and had let one
of the boys escape his grasp. To her delight, she watched him turn quickly,
using his free hand to claw at the grass and slow himself down to switch
directions and pursue the boy who was running for his life. In her mind, she
heard him “Get the girl!” Looking up, she saw that he had allowed the
woman to get away. She was never sure if Taylor’s kind nature would cause him
to just let some of them avoid the trauma and go on their not-so-merry way so
she didn’t want to assume he wanted her to catch the fourth victim. As she ran,
she was cursing herself for wearing a skirt, but still, the woman was no match
for her, particularly because she seemed unable to let herself drop the heavy
bag she carried. With a final spring, she lunged at the woman and had her
pinned to the damp ground easily. Pulling herself and her prize up, she made
her way over to her companion, with her hand clamped over the woman’s mouth.
While she continued to protest, it wasn’t loud enough to attract any attention
other than that of her gentleman friends who Taylor had his long arms and legs
wrapped securely around. He sat perched on the old bench, the three boys
panicked, but unharmed at the moment and sitting there all squashed together as
he held them all three together. “Now, stop all the struggling, you’re not
going anywhere.” He was saying to them as Melanie walked up. “We don’t want to
have to hurt your friend here.”
Melanie had begun to go through the woman’s bag, “I don’t
think they’re friends, really. Just doing a little business out here in the
wilderness?” She cooed into the woman’s ear.
Taylor laughed, “Ah, now I know what you were taking turns
at! I thought you all were gonna get high!”
Melanie smiled, “You’re so naïve, Taylor.”
He snorted, “Sex, drugs, it’s always something. I just went
for the most logical thing I guess, since they weren’t already stoned.” He
leaned in toward the boys, “Your minds were much too clear for that.”
“God, I’m starving! Let’s eat!” Melanie said, gazing down
at the three boys. They looked to be in their late teens, all flannel and
stubble and fashionably scruffy looking. She wasn’t sure what Taylor had done
to them to make them quiet, except for the one who’s mouth he had his hand
over—“Hmmm…not as ignorant as the other two, huh?” She said, looking at Taylor.
“Nope, it doesn’t seem so. But, that’s ok, he’s mine, so
I’ll fix that.” He smiled and showed his fangs.
Melanie returned the smile, her own teeth glinting in the
moonlight.
