A/N
Welcome back and hello to new readers.
I'm grateful for the reviews, fav's, and alerts. Thank you.
Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight-related.
My thanks go to the wonderful and talented maryhell AKA Taylin Clavelli. My pre-reader, beta, but more importantly mentor.
…oOo…
...oOo... Death is not the end ...oOo...
Chapter One
2014
EPOV
"Another, please." I heard the man, sitting at the bar, call to the bartender, while pointing to his empty glass on the counter in front of him. There was quite a distance between the bar and the corner table I was occupying, but being a vampire had its advantages - exceptional hearing being one of them.
It was the fourth night in a row that I frequented the fine establishment owned by Sam Uley. It was the third night in a row the man at the bar was here too, and he was the reason why I kept coming back.
He was still as breathtaking as when I first encountered him, a few nights ago.
…oOo…
The first night
The bar was almost full, and there was a lively traffic of guests going in and out of the doors to inhale their favorite kind of nicotine. I still hadn't decided whether it was a blessing or a curse, that smoking was no longer allowed in bars or anywhere else this last decade. Not that I'd ever smoked myself, but the smoke-filled public places helped to disguise the human scents, and therefore lowered my temptation for their blood.
I looked around the bar to see if there was anyone worthy of my attention.
Besides exceptional hearing, I also possessed the ability to read people's minds. I could read every single mind in this bar, but one – the mind belonged to a man sitting alone at the counter.
He looked about as tall as me, lean yet muscular in a sinewy way. His hair was jaw length and golden, as far as I could tell from the dim light. He wore faded jeans, a tartan fleece shirt and combat boots. He fitted right in with the main male population of Port Angeles and looked the complete opposite of my usual type of prey – arrogant and well-groomed businessmen from major cities around the world.
I figured he was waiting for someone. However, that someone never showed. He kept to himself all night, even though, more than one woman tried to catch his attention. Intrigued by his lack of interest in the flirting women, I started wondering if he was here to drown love ache, or if he might be gay, like myself.
He was a mystery to me. In my one-hundred years of existence as a vampire, I had never come across a mind I couldn't read.
I hadn't yet decided if I wanted to feed on him or take the risk of making him cry out in ecstasy, as we had sex at his place, over and over.
It had been years since I last fed on a human being and even longer since, I had been sexually involved with another man. The last feed and eventually kill, had been a pedophile priest in Ireland and the last sexual encounter had been with another vampire in Florence. I rarely involved myself with human beings sexually, although I craved their warm bodies. I was always afraid I might accidentally end up killing them in the middle of the act, due to my overwhelming desire for blood when aroused.
The man signaled for the bartender and paid his tab while I finished the last of my whiskey. He had been sitting in the same position all night, so I hadn't had the opportunity to see him from the front. That changed the moment I saw him climb off the chair and turn around slowly.
Jesus… he was gorgeous.
He had a distinguished jawline hidden behind the golden locks of hair and a full mouth with luscious lips. Yet, the most significant feature was his piercing blue eyes. Eyes that for a few seconds locked with mine, before he turned around and left. His walk was sensual, almost feline, and when he exited the door, the incoming wind blew his scent in my direction. A scent more potent, sweet yet musky and delicious than I had ever come across as a vampire. All my previous plans vaporized… I could not feast on this beautiful man, nor could I have sex him. It would be the death of him. I was sure I would not be able to control myself and stop, if I were to drink his blood, or his more intimate fluids.
Instead of following him as I had planned, I remained at my table in the corner and calmed myself by counting all the times I had tampered with my identity. I came up with twenty. Some of the changes were in order to hide my real age – others where alter egos for artistic use. I smiled when I recalled some of the rather unfortunate ones, like my flamenco guitarist, Eduardo Cuello.
However, I could no longer evade the intrusive thoughts in the back of my mind.
About three things I was absolutely positive. First, the man was a fragile human being. Second, there was a part of me - and I didn't know how potent that part might be – that craved him. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably attracted to him.
When the bar closed, I left and ran back home to Forks. It was quite a distance, but vampire speed made it bearable.
It was not my home per se, but Carlisle and Esme welcomed me back last month after the decades I had spent abroad in Europe, sowing my wild oats, so to speak.
…oOo…
Being a single vampire during daytime was easy. I went to the library, the movies, occasionally I borrowed Carlisle's Volvo and drove to Seattle, and then I went hunting. It was all myth and old superstition about vampires not being able to sustain daylight; we only needed to make sure we didn't draw too much attention, as our skin tended to sparkle after too much sun expose.
The nights were worse. I got reckless, as I didn't sleep… at all. I didn't have a mate to make passionately love to - like Carlisle had Esme. I had read all the classics twice. Although, there were some excellent new vampire-TV shows on the cable net, I longed for company and meaningfulness in my so-called life.
Carlisle had told me, there were other vampire covens in this part of the US and I hoped to run into some sooner rather than later. That was why I went to Sam's bar. Carlisle had mentioned several vampires were regulars at the bar. Maybe I would be able to find a mate or some company in general.
...oOo...
A/N
Another short chapter. They will be longer as the story progress.
See you on Tuesday where I'll post Chapter 2. Then it's back to Friday updates.
Hit the button below and leave me some love, if this story is your new personal brand of heroin.