Blood Connections

Chapter 1-Intro

Tina

The night I met Bette Porter my whole life would change...no no no, I can't start this off that way...I will begin here by telling you who I am. My name is Tina Kennard. Former big time movie executive. That is probably all you need to know about me at this juncture in time.

As I was saying, when I met Bette, my life immediately became different. It wasn't uncommon for me to arrive back to my condo late at night after being on a film set all day, and as a very independent woman, the thought of danger never crossed my mind. On this particular night, I guess it should have. I parked my Mercedes SL in the outdoor lot, grabbed my briefcase out of the backseat and started walking towards my building. That was when I felt it. All the hairs stood up on my arms and the back of my neck stopping me in my tracks. I would have assumed it was a cold breeze but this was a particularly hot LA summer night. There wasn't one. I began to walk again, trying to tell myself to get a grip even though I had reached for my blackberry and had a firm grip on it in case someone jumped out at me. I saw a shadow move in the darkness over by a huge tree. I tried to tell myself it was just an animal, but I knew better. That shadow was too big to be any animal that would be in this area and it moved too quickly to be a human. Shaking now, and still trying to get a hold of myself, I picked up my pace and practically ran to the enclosed doorway. I almost made it, and then...it happened.

Hands, cold as ice grabbed my shoulders from behind in what can only be described as a vice grip. I was pulled back against a body that felt like it had spent too much time in a freezer. The only thing that was warm was the breath on my neck. I instantly knew this was no normal human. This was a predator. And then it spoke.

"If you struggle, this only gets more difficult and painful for you." The words terrified me, but the voice was unexpected. It was smooth, warm, almost...sensual and...Female! I ignored the instruction and began trying to get away. Did this creature honestly think I would let her do whatever it was she intended without a fight? Her grip tightened. Pain shot through me, my cellphone fell to the ground and I felt for sure that I had broken bones. I stopped.

"W-who are y-you?" I gasped. It was all I could muster.

"You needn't know who I am. You don't even need to know what I am." She paused. "Although, I think you may have an answer to that in a moment." This was said with a smile. I am sure of it. She sounded almost jovial, like she was taking serious delight in my fear, and then suddenly a white hot pain shot through my neck. Instantly I knew what was happening. I had been right about it not being human. She was a vampire.

I felt myself go weak in her arms, I thought for sure I was dying, and then the weirdest thing happened. I felt something resembling a heartbeat pound in my ears. I can only imagine it was hers. I felt, euphoric almost. The pain was gone and only a blissful feeling that I still can't describe remained. I heard myself let out a soft moan and actually lean into her more, relishing the feeling. Then, almost as if she had been burned, she stopped. I turned to face her, ask her what was going on, why she had stopped, what was that feeling? But she was gone.

Bette

Where should I begin? With the events leading up to that night, or just from the moment my world changed as I know it? Maybe I should give you some sort of background as to who I am? Perhaps you would like to know how it came to pass that I am WHAT I am? For now, I don't think it really matters. All I believe you really need to know is that I am a Vampire. I stalk humans as prey.

Generally my tastes lean toward beautiful women. Men just aren't my taste. Women however, with voluptuous curves, sweet smelling skin, luscious lips and much headier, intoxicating blood, are my meal of choice. The only time a man serves my purpose is if they have a piece of art I wish to acquire. Then it is nothing more than a business transaction.

Anyway, none of this is pointing us in the right direction so, I digress. The night I met Tina Kennard.

It was an abnormally still and hot night in LA. No wind whatsoever to break the heat. Young, scantily clad women were everywhere, trying to stay cool. I, however do not really feel heat or cold, or should I say, neither affects me. I do feel it, just only subtly. I was hunting. Taking my time to find the exact right woman to feed my desires. I preferred to do this alone, unlike some of my friends. I considered myself a demon in the night, taking life was not something I felt needed to be shared and discussed afterward. It was a personal, private affair for me.

I stumbled upon a condominium. Luxury. I hid by a tree as a beautiful blonde in a gorgeous silver sports car pulled into the lot. I waited calmly as she exited her car to see if she would be the one tonight. She opened the back door and pulled out a briefcase. An executive type. So far she seemed to be the perfect prey.

She began walking towards the entrance-way of her building. It was then the light from a streetlamp caught her face and I saw every detail of how beautiful she was. Perfect bone structure, full lips, and the most beautiful hazel eyes I had ever seen. I'm sure you are wondering how I got all of this while standing hidden in the darkness. Vampires have vision that is incomparable to any other creature. Our senses are close to five hundred times that of a human's. Suddenly she stopped dead. I'm sure she felt me watching her. I saw her pull a cell phone from her briefcase and hold onto it tightly. I sensed her fear. I laughed to myself a little then. Humans and their technology. Thinking it will protect them from the things in the dark they cannot see. We vampires use technology only as a means to communicate if need be, to blend in more with the humans, but we all know, it is useless in fighting us off.

Back to my story. She began to walk faster and I started to creep out from behind my tree. Moving swiftly so I would be poised to strike. It was then she looked towards me and I saw the expression on her face. She had seen something. Profanities swirled in my brain thinking that maybe I had been careless. She had seen me. I would have to search for new prey. Then I realized it had only been my shadow she had seen. I was still safe. I mentally chastised myself for thinking so humanly and moved towards her door as she began to run.

I grabbed her right as she was about to make it to the door. Held her shoulders in my hands, knowing she wouldn't be able to move. She was shaking now, terrified. I spoke.

" If you struggle, this only gets more difficult and painful for you." I said this barely above a whisper and just as humans always do, she began to fight. I tightened my grip causing her to drop her cellphone and stop moving. Most humans at this point, do not usually speak to me.

"W-who are y-you?" When she did it was laced with terror, but still was one of the most beautiful human voices I had ever heard. Not too high pitched but still womanly. I thought to myself that if a rose petal could speak, this would be it's voice. I played the game and spoke again.

"You needn't know who I am. You don't even need to know what I am." Then I paused and smiled. "Although, I think you may have an answer to that in a moment." She didn't say anything more so I bit her neck. That lovely fleshy part right where the shoulder connects. As her blood flowed into my mouth I stifled a moan. I had tasted a lot of blood in my days as a vampire, but none as sweet as hers. It was like the finest of red wines. Not too thick or strong, but not lacking in flavour. Then something happened I could never have foreseen. We connected. I am used to hearing a victims heartbeat when I drink their blood. I am most definitely not used to them hearing mine. I knew this was happening because I could suddenly hear them both, pounding in my head, reflecting back to me what she was experiencing. Then another surprise. She moaned. Actually moaned in a pleasure I had never heard before. She leaned her body into mine as if to silently beg for more, beg for me not to stop. I had only heard of this phenomenon before but never with a human.

My fellow vampire friends had described it as only happening as part of the vampiric lovemaking ritual between two lovers. And by lovers I actually mean people who are in love. Vampires can still have sex, but the act of drinking each others blood is an experience solely reserved for the one we intend to share our eternity with. Up until now I had never experienced it. I kept my life free of commitment. I had sex with vampires and only drank the blood of humans. I did not have relationships. Somehow this seemed to human of a concept to me. Now, I was experiencing this with a human? How could this be? So I did the only thing I could do. I fled. I knew that I had not drank enough to kill her and her wounds would heal. She hadn't drank my blood so she wouldn't turn, and somehow I knew she was a smart enough woman not to say anything about her experience with me. I saw the look of shock and disappointment as she turned to find me no where to be found and for the first time in my vampire life, I felt pain. And it was for a human.