The Taxi Ride

Chapter Four: One Step at a Time

I had been sitting on my bed lounging comfortably, a book in my hand, when my phone rang. I picked it up without looking at the caller id, knowing that only one person had my cell number. I was already amused before I answered.

"Laurent," I purred, holding up the book with one hand and phone pressed to my ear with the other. I was still reading my book, able to absorb every word that was written as well as every word that was being said because of my vampirism, multitasking almost a joke with how easy it was.

"Victoria you marvelous bitch," he greeted bemusedly. "I haven't seen you in ages, where the hell have you gone?"

"I went on a walk."

"A walk that took you halfway across the country?" He guessed haphazardly. I could just imagine his eyebrows going up as he playfully pestered me.

"Yes, well I am a fast walker." I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. Me and Laurent went back centuries. He was one of the first vampires I had dated and when our relationship had ended, it hadn't been on a sour note like the others. We hadn't fought each other too much, only really going at it five or six times, and leaving the fights with minor injuries. I chalked it up to his gentle nature- well, as gentle as vampire nature would allow- and his manners. He was French Canadian, and it looked like some of the stereotypes about that country proved true.

"Hmm," he hummed thoughtfully. "I don't seem to recall that. I do recall you being fast in other ways, however. Like when it came time that my tongue found its way between the apex of your thighs."

"I seem to recall it was you who was very fast. You would only last thirty seconds," I shot back playfully, flipping a page in my book.

"Thirty seconds is a very long time in relation to vampiric speed. And also to your beauty," he chuckled.

"My, how you flatter me."

Laurent and I had this sort of flirtatious banter going on since forever. It didn't bother me like it usually did when other vampires tried it. Again, it might have to do with his kind nature and how he had always treated me equally. You would think their wasn't gender disparity among vampires, since we were all equally strong and fast. Vampire nature did not discriminate among vampires- a small girl could have the same strength as a huge man. The only differences lay in vampire fledglings who were extra strong in their first year, and those who had additional powers. Sadly, it was the vampires themselves who discriminated. We were all once humans, products of our society. And since most of us were old, those old fashioned ideals stuck with us, namely the ones about how women were lesser. Not to mention there were issues with race as well...but that was an extensive topic I would not get into. Just thinking about it and the unfairness dealt was enough to make my skin boil.

Of course, not all vampires were like this. Those who lived among the human populace had to adapt quickly and switch their moral codes and old ways of thinking if they wanted to fit in. But it was hard for a vampire to do that, as vampires were heavily creatures of habit. So it was hard to find a fellow male vampire who did not treat women poorly. It was probably why most of my relationships with them failed, simply because I was too independent for them, and would not allow them to control me.

Laurent had only been controlling like that due to the possessive side of his vampiric self. Otherwise, he had been fairly decent in that department. He had always let me roam and be free and I had appreciated that. The only reason we broke up was because I had gotten bored of the relationship. I felt like it was lacking something. He had tried to hold on, but I had tried to push him away, and this had lead to many push and pull fights.

Sometimes I wondered if he still held feelings for me.

We went back and forth with some more flirty lines before he cleared away that topic and moved onto another. The real reason for his call.

"No, but seriously, why did you leave Alaska? I came back from my vacation in Greece to see you'd left the area."

Should I tell him the real reason for my departure? But as I thought about telling him about Bella, I felt possessiveness hit me. She was my mark, and no one else was allowed to know about her. I was irrationally worried that once I told Laurent about her he would come to see her, to drink her blood, which was rightfully mine! The phone began to creak in my grip and I relaxed it, not even having noticed how tense I had gotten. I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to calm myself down.

"Vicky?" Laurent asked, the silence, while only a mere 2.5 seconds, too long for us.

"I...well, you might not believe it, but I wanted to simply get away. To try something new," I lied.

"No, I do believe it. You were a restless little bitch. Still are."

I smiled at his words. He didn't seem mad about my sudden leaving, not that I could have helped my sudden actions. Bella had left to go back to college and I simply had to follow her, I could not refuse to do so. I was glad he wasn't upset, I would hate to make him so.

"So where did you go? I tried to follow your trail but it ends at the airport."

"Nowhere too special." Once more that irrationality flared up. I didn't want him to know where I was because of Bella. I was sure if he smelled her blood too, then he would want her and I couldn't have that. It would kill me to have to kill him, because there was no other way to get rid of a vampire who was this attached to a blood scent. I knew myself someone would have to burn my body into oblivion, stake me through the heart, or rip my head right off, in order for me to get away from Bella. Otherwise I would keep coming for her, and protecting what was mine, no matter what lay in my way. I would even swim through an ocean of fire for her.

I frowned slightly as I realized how crazy that statement sounded. How crazy all of this sounded. Her blood scent was literally starting to drive me to irrationality.

"I'm in a city right now. Decided to try a more settled style of life. See how that works out for me."

"Well, Vicky, I do declare. Are you going domestic on me?" Laurent tried to say that in a southern accent but mixed with his French one it didn't come out sounding right at all. "What happened to roaming the forests at night, and scaring unsuspecting campers? Or preying on the scumbags that loiter near bars? Or the thrill of the chase from running from cops and getting away?"

As he said this he stirred up a sense of longing in me. Indeed I did miss that. In the city I couldn't as easily do it, the tall buildings caging me in like an animal. I felt restless. I felt suffocated. I hated the city life.

I wanted my grass and my green forests back, not these concrete slabs. Wanted the fresh air, not the fumes of automobiles. "You're going to make me come back if you don't stop talking."

He chuckled. "Good. That was the plan."

"I'm not planning on coming back early until I'm done."

"Done?"

Shit, I had let that little tidbit loose. "Yes. But it shouldn't take me much longer. So don't worry your pretty little head. I'll be back, just try not to cry in the meantime over my absence."

"Vick-" But I ended the call there, sighing in exhaustion. I had said I would come back soon, but I didn't know if that was true. Befriending Bella was taking a hell of a time. Time I had a lot of, but I was impatient, used to getting my way quickly.

So far I'd been trailing her for a month, calling her for her services each Friday and Saturday night. Seeing her on the weekend allowed me to dress more provocatively, since I was going for a night out. And I could tell my clothing choice was beginning to have an effect on her. She tried really hard not to look at me, and would avert her eyes so that she wouldn't get caught staring. I, of course, caught her staring anyways because of my quick reflexes.

So my efforts were working, slowly. Just what else could I do to breach the gap between us and have her wriggling underneath me as I drained her life force? I bit the pad of my thumb. Maybe I should confine in Laurent what was happening, what had brought me here. He was the closest thing I had to a friend. But no, my stupid possessiveness was holding me back. Which meant I would have to deal with this on my own.

Sighing once more, and tossing my book aside, I decided to look up some tips on the internet.

A/N: So a bit of a background chapter on Vicky with this.