Dr Hoffman scrutinized her reflection, had it faded at all she wondered, if anything her hair seemed even brighter today, perhaps her face was fading, then she remembered that she had re-dyed it. That was the trouble with whiskey, it had a nasty side effect of making you forget the little things. She felt a hand on her shoulder and a murmur, it sounded like 'help' but when she reached up to touch the hand it was gone. Barnabus stood on the other side of the room and she cursed him for creeping up on her, told him that he had mother issues. He said he hadn't been near her, why would he, vampires have no desire to toy with humans, as far as he was concerned they were only good for one thing. Dinner. Dr Hoffman sighed as she fixed herself a drink, if only he knew the strange power he had over her and of the power she longed to have over him. Sure she could dangle a medallion and enthrall him like a kitten with a yarn ball but there was no return on that, no physical gratification.
"I suppose you're here for your treatment?" she asked "or is there someth..."
"Yes my treatment, I trust you have adequate supplies"
"Oh, yes it's uh... actually it might take a while longer, it's just going through the system, why don't we see what we have to talk about?"
Barnabus looked up, straight through Dr Hoffman, she shuddered under his gaze feeling as though he was studying her deepest thoughts.
"Why are you helping me?" He spoke gruffly, as he watched her Julia's eyes flickered momentarily as if she was hiding something, she quickly regained her composure straightening her back and crossing the room towards him.
"Because... I care about the future of this family and your happiness is a part of that." She placed a hand on his shoulder his muscles tensed as he remembered how he had let himself be lured the last time, that was not what he was here for, what remained of his heart belonged to Vicky now even if she didn't know it yet. The change in him sent a jarring sensation up Julia's arm and her heart felt like it was beating a little heavier and she felt her blood was thick as tar.
"I'm sure the blood must be ready by now" she said breezily but inside she was disappointed in herself for letting his response change her plans; however she knew that this was the only way she could really gain his trust and by doing that achieve her dream of immortality.
"Good" he replied quietly and in a sulking tone said, "I don't feel more human"
"You've only done one session, give it some time" she whispered as her hand slid down the inside of his translucent forearm looking for his blue veins. She found what she was looking for and forced her thumb into the crease of his elbow, his blood pulsed against the pad of her thumb and she felt her own heart rate quicken as she slipped the needle into his arm. He shivered at the shock and Dr Hoffman withdrew her hand gliding her fingers down the outside of his forearm circling over the inside of his wrist as she withdrew her hand. He clenched his fist as she did so and she felt the strength that lurked within his body. The pump whirred in the otherwise silent room and it took all of Julia's energy not to lean in closer to Barnabus to feel what little warmth his physical presence exuded. After all this time on her own in this rickety old house with its loopy brats and money grabbing men he was a welcome relief. Before his arrival drink was the only thing that seemed to connect her with something, the very audible clink of ice against crystal cut glass a small reminder of her futile existence.
The pump clicked off and Julia was aroused from her daydream to find a confounded Barnabus prodding the needle in his arm as if to ask why it had stopped retrieving his life force. Dr Hoffman forced herself to smile and told him that the machine had a lock on it that wouldn't allow her to use it for another 24 hours, she was lying of course but she had to ensure that he came back somehow. Dismayed with this seemingly useless contraption Barnabus pulled the needle from his arm and licked the end before placing it on the couch from which he had just risen and promptly left. To be continued...