- Tuesday -
The sound of the phone ringing woke me up and for a panicked second I thought I was in a cave. Then I rolled over onto one of Ben's steel toed work boots and remembered precisely where I was. Without a thought, I pushed the door open and stumbled out of the closet in search of the phone.
As I stepped into the kitchen, the answering machine clicked on and Ben's voice filled the room, requesting the caller to leave their name and number. I picked up the phone and turned the machine off, as much to shut out his voice as to answer the phone.
"Hello," I said, then reached over to the blind covered window above my kitchen sink. I parted them to take a peek outside and squinted into the bright sunlight. I could see my car was back where it belonged and made a mental note to thank Ben for getting it out of the impound.
"Eryn? It's mom. That boy of yours called and told us you were back home but he wouldn't let us talk to you. Are you okay? We've been worried about you!"
I groaned, and then winced when my mom continued yelling into the phone.
"I'm fine, mom. I had the flu and hit my head. I've just been sleeping it off." I pulled the blinds open, despite the pain it caused my eyes. The sunlight was warm, and I still felt cold. I smiled, the warm prickling on my skin making me feel content.
My mom rattled on, mostly offering her unwanted opinions on my life and relationships.
"Mom, nobody is trying to isolate me from my friends or family. Have you been taking your..." I sighed loudly and made a face into the phone as I was told what a disrespectful child I was.
I gasped, clenching my fist tightly around the phone as a wave of pain wracked my body.
"I have to go," I whispered into the phone and set the handset down on the counter. My mom's voice continued, clearly audible though I wasn't paying any attention.
The pain faded quickly and I frowned. Just as I was recovering, I was hit by another wave of agony, so much worse than the first. I doubled over and vomited noisily onto the floor, thickly coagulated blood spewed forth and I crumpled to the floor. I raised a hand to wipe my mouth and gawked at the sight of my hand. Only it wasn't just my hand. Everywhere I looked my veins were turning black beneath my skin.
I shrieked and scurried out of the kitchen, desperate to get back to the safety of my closet. I was finally a believer.
- x x x -
I couldn't sleep again after that. My entire body throbbed, and while I didn't get sick again, the pain wouldn't leave me. So I lay there on the floor, curled into a tight ball, watching the tiny crack of light under the door get fainter and fainter. I wouldn't open the door again until that little line marched its way back under the door and vanished completely.
I was never going to enjoy another summer day swimming in the backwaters of the great muddy Mississippi River. I was never going to lounge on the patio in my bikini, baking my skin until I got that perfect tan. I was going to spend the rest of my life hiding in that stupid closet. I really hated vampires. I had always thought they were silly, and the only times I had ever watched them on TV or gone to the movies was when Ben had wanted to see something and I'd laughed every damned time one of the actors would open their mouth for no other reason than to show off their expensive dental props.
I ran my tongue over my teeth. Except for when Gabe had accosted me in the bathroom and shoved his fingers in my mouth, I had seen no sign of fangs in my own mouth. At least I wasn't doomed to spend eternity hissing at people and walking around with my mouth hanging open so everyone could admire my nice pointy teeth.
Thinking of Ben, and how I'd always thought he looked like he belonged in California, riding the waves in Malibu or something, I had to laugh. He'd never so much as visited the ocean, but with his short blonde hair that curled when it got too long, his naturally golden skin tone, bright blue eyes, and all around good looks, I imagined he'd fit right in with that scene. I'd never get to find out.
I just hoped I wasn't expected to dye my hair black, wear slinky dresses designed to make guys look everywhere but at my face, and wander around saying "bleh" at random.
Running a hand over my face, I had to admit one point. At least vampirism appeared to be good for one's complexion.
- x x x -
The retreating band of light under my door had nearly disappeared when I heard footsteps coming from somewhere else in the apartment. I listened closely and made sure the Glock was where it should be, out of the way in the corner, but within easy reach. I was still curled into a ball, and though much of the pain wracking my body had diminished, I still felt like I'd been staked out in the desert sun without water for about a week. It was like a sunburn, but on the inside. For once I was grateful for the fact that I felt chilled.
The footsteps quickened, coming closer until I heard them in the hallway and then in the bedroom just feet away from where I rested. They paused for a moment, then began back out of the room. I heard a muffled oath.
"Ben?" I called, my voice cracking. I tried to work some moisture into my mouth.
The footsteps stopped again, then returned slowly, like the owner wasn't sure where to go.
"Eryn?" Ben asked from right outside the door, then opened it with a confused look on his face. "Why are you in the closet?"
"The phone rang." I muttered.
"Okay..." He knelt down beside me and put a hand on my shoulder.
I flinched at his touch, not because I was afraid of him, but because I expected it to hurt. I relaxed with a heavy sigh when it didn't.
"I feel crispy," I laughed.
"Your mom left a voice-mail on my phone. She asked me to tell you she wasn't amused and if you didn't want to talk to her, then you could have just said so instead of slamming the phone down and screaming at her." Ben's eyes moved over my body before settling on my face. "What did you do to yourself?"
"Do I look bad? I answered the phone and the sunshine felt so good. And then... ohh... it sucked. I feel like I've been microwaved."
Now that I could see, I pulled my arms up to take a look. My veins were no longer visibly black beneath my skin. I couldn't see anything abnormal at all, except the whole pale thing, and even that was fairly subtle. It wasn't like I suddenly looked like I had a bucket of white stage paint slathered all over my body.
"What part of vampire don't you understand?" Ben sounded annoyed as he helped me pull myself up into a sitting position and then stand. When he started to let go, I wobbled dangerously and he had to put an arm back around me to keep me upright. "The whole sunlight thing is real. You might not burst into flames, but it's going to make you real sick. You're lucky you didn't kill yourself. You'll be fine sleeping in bed if you keep the blinds closed. Light isn't going to hurt you. You just need to steer clear of direct sunlight, okay?"
I snickered though it wasn't really funny, but I was still feeling loopy.
"You need blood." He sad flatly.
"There's some in the kitchen!" I giggled.
"Shit," his cheek twitched.
I hated it when he clenched his teeth like that.
"Okay," he said, guiding me over to the bed and sat me down. "Can you... you know...? Can you extend your fangs?"
I laughed again, "Is this where you tell me to bite you?"
He rolled his eyes. "Did your mom loan you some of her magic happy pills? Come on, this is serious. You need blood."
"That's gross," I wrinkled my nose.
He shook his head, unamused and pulled a pocketknife from his jeans. He opened the blade and sliced into his upper forearm until there was an inch long cut. It looked pretty deep and he'd done it without the slightest hesitation though the tightness around his eyes gave the pain away. He swung his left leg behind me so he could get closer to me and brought his arm up to my mouth.
I watched the blood flow, horrified.
"Dammit, Eryn!" Ben cursed and when I only squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head, he pushed the wound against my mouth and held my head in place with his other hand.
I wrapped my hands around his arm and bit him, and not in order to drink his damned blood either. The idea was disgusting, but when I felt a pair of teeth that I wasn't used to having sink into his flesh, my eyes flew open in surprise. Ben grunted, but he didn't jerk his arm away.
Blood flowed into my mouth, over my tongue, down my throat, and I swallowed whether I wanted to or not. It was hot, coppery, and tasted like I expected it to. Which is to say, it tasted like blood. Becoming a vampire didn't suddenly make blood taste like wine or anything so stupid. But it didn't make me gag either. I could feel it going down my throat and pooling in my stomach. Warmth spread through my body so quickly, banishing any lingering pain along with the cold, that I couldn't help but moan in absolute pleasure. I'd already forgotten how wonderful it felt to be warm.
I eased off, withdrawing my teeth so that I could get a better position on his arm and he took the opportunity to pull his arm away. I had to suppress the urge to pull his arm back to me, but I caught myself. He was barely bleeding now and the cut he'd given himself was already starting to scab over. The twin punctures from my teeth still oozed, but only a little. It was another thing to be relieved about. Feeding wasn't nearly as messy as it was in some of the movies.
I wiped my mouth to make sure I didn't have blood all over myself, but I could only feel a small patch of blood on my chin. I needed to shower anyway.
I grinned at Ben, who was ignoring me for the moment. He'd pulled a tissue from the box on my nightstand and was wiping his arm clean. I felt good. I didn't want to be ignored. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I flattened myself against his, getting as close as possible and nuzzled his neck. He sighed, not in pleasure, but like I was distracting him from something more interesting. But he wasn't pushing me away either, so I pressed on and nipped gently at his earlobe.
"Eryn," he said and sounded rather stern. But his tone just made me grin even wider and I kissed his throat. I worked my way up, leaving little kisses along his jaw, across his chin, until I reached his mouth and when I finally tasted his lips, I let my hand trail down until I had his groin cupped carefully in my hand. I felt him react to my touch instantly through his jeans and we both groaned, but his didn't sound nearly as appreciative as mine did.
Gently patting him between the legs, he flinched and I smiled against his mouth in satisfaction. I pulled away, my eyes locked onto his and he looked hungry in a way that excited me. I pulled my nightshirt up and over my head, tossing it aside and then went after the button of his jeans.
Ben opened his mouth to speak, but I really wasn't interested in conversation at that point. I splayed my fingers across his chest and pushed. Everything around me seemed to blur for a split second as I positioned myself over him. I rubbed myself against him this time, and was rewarded with a more appropriate groan from him.
His eyes flashed gold and a soft growl rumbled in his throat. I shivered.
"That is so goddamned hot," I whispered.
Ben was beginning to breath heavily with a slightly glazed look to his eyes so I wasn't expecting it when he hooked a leg around my ankles and the next thing I knew, I was flat on my back and he was hovering above me. When he lowered his mouth to my breast, I let my eyes drift closed and murmured something encouraging.
His teeth scraped my nipple and I clenched handfuls of the comforter in my fists. Working his way lower, he nipped lightly here and then, teasing me until I was rocking against him, wanting so much more than what he was giving me. When he reached my belly, he hooked a finger into the waistband of my shorts. I lifted my hips eagerly and he slid them down until I could kick them off the rest of the way.
I nearly whimpered in anticipation when he pulled my knees up and lowered his head between my legs. When his tongue darted out and tasted me, I bit into my lower lip hard enough to draw blood. I barely noticed. My entire body felt like it was on fire, but this time it was an exquisite pain and I never wanted it to end.
He went for another taste and I bucked, crying out. I didn't notice when he pulled his face away. At least not until he spoke.
"You smell different."
"What?" I cried, not understanding why he'd stopped.
"I can't do this." He shook his head.
"Why the fuck not?" I growled in frustrated outrage.
"Because you smell like a vampire, and I don't like it."
"Are you stupid?" I stared at him a moment, completely dumbfounded. When he only stared back at me, clearly unable to find the words necessary to placate me, I just felt pissed. Really freaking pissed and unsatisfied. I lifted my leg until my foot was level with his shoulder and gave him a hard shove, pushing him entirely off the bed.
He shot me a hard look as I leapt up and stomped out of the bedroom.
"I'm taking a shower," I called behind me.
