Tyra's POV.
Six weeks. Six weeks have passed by now since I returned to my post as bookkeeper at Fangtasia, and in that time I think I've seen Eric about three times, if that. According to Pam, he's up to his eyes in 'vampire politics' right now, matters which she cannot divulge apparently. Not that I'd ever press her for information, it isn't my business is it? But in that time I have found myself becoming more trusted by the lady vampire, and forging a bond that does equal an actual friendship with her, even if she does still keep dropping hints about wanting to bed me, but she does it in a humorous, only half serious way. But let me get one thing straight, it isn't a typical friendship by any means; but then again neither of us is typically female. We don't sit and giggle whilst watching vile TV shows like Sex and the City (yak! I hate it!) or Gossip Girl or anything like that, we don't go on trips to the mall or out for cocktails (blood in Pam's case), or do any of that typical girly crap. We have a twist on it though...
'Now that you should get, it's more than worth what he wants for it too. It's authentic, I can tell you that better than he can' she tells me, coming to my side at the late night flea market we're currently visiting, searching for our joint passion; old and weird looking trinkets, stuff that regular women would more than turn their nose up at (taxidermy anyone? Didn't think so, and I just brought a stuffed rattlesnake). And right now the mirror I'm looking at fits that bill, beautiful and old gothic style (none of this new goth dragon or pentacle themed shit for me, I mean REAL gothic), made when Pam was about three years old, making it a hundred and...she'll drain me dry if I reveal the last digits in its age, because then you'll know how old she is and then calculate when she was made, and that's a secret she guards very closely. She's still very much human in that respect, and overall much more human in nature than Eric, even though you never forget for a second that she's a vampire. She's not all warm and cuddly at all, which suits me well because neither am I.
'Hmmmmm, yeah okay I'll take it' I reply, passing it over to the man hovering behind is stall, who takes it and begins to carefully wrap it up in bubble wrap, while I count the $250 he wants for it from my purse. That'll be me going without lunch for the next week to afford it then; I've had a couple of clients not pay me on a couple of invoices yet, and when it's the time of the month my mortgage payment is due things are a little tight. So it was probably pretty stupid of me to just buy that mirror, but what the hell. I'd have only sat and thought about it and kicked myself for not buying it as soon as I got home.
'So did you find anything at that pricey vintage clothing stall?' I ask her, since that's where she's just come from.
'A couple of corsets, one for you too' she replies, while I give her the 'Pam, you didn't have to' look before saying as much.
'Oh I absolutely had to! Watching Eric being able to pogo himself along on his own dick when he sees you in it is more than worth what it cost' she replies, making me roll my eyes and laugh with embarrassment.
'Then I'm not wearing it at work' I reply as we walk along to the next stall, Pam loosely linking her arm with mine.
'In that case you'll come and meet me at the club one night wearing it. Either way, I have to have the amusement value of watching him squirm when he sees how much it'll make your tits look like they're levitating' she replies, laughing a touch. She makes no secret of the fact that even though she has a hell of a lot of love and respect for Eric as her maker, she loves winding him up.
'I'm not interested in doing anything else to fuel that particular vampires want for me' I reply, shaking my head.
'Oh but you are. You love it when he flirts with you, and despite everything you say, you do flirt back Tyra. Why not just give up? Because I can tell you now, he won't give up; when he wants something he always gets it. And besides, you might just enjoy it. From what I've been told, he's not exactly bad, and not exactly small where it counts either' she replies, making me almost choke on the mouthful of Cherry Coke I've unscrewed the bottle cap on and taken a sip from. 'Now is that not incentive enough for you to just lighten the hell up, quit throwing me the 'I can't because he's my boss' line and just go and have sex with him? Because I can tell you, he'd be waiting with very, very open arms. I remember the last woman he wanted that he couldn't have, it was 1935, she was another vampire and her name was Christine, she was impossibly beautiful but she wasn't interested. He went through four girls a night, usually all together too, just to quell his want for her. And he's behaving like that all over again now, except its Deborah who's mostly getting the brunt of his frustrations' she then adds. I swear to god! That's the only thing that annoys me about her, she just will not let this idea of Eric and I making the beast with two backs go.
'Will you quit it! If I was going to fuck him I'd have done it by now!' Registering the fact I'm bordering on shrill, which only amuses my vampiric friend further.
'Never, it's too much fun' she replies, giving me a very devious look which only makes me roll my eyes for the second time in ten minutes in reply. What else can I say? I'm beginning to think it'd be easier to just have sex with him and get it out of the way so I can carry on as normal. But see here's the thing, as much as I'm not some old soft romantic at heart, a girl who wants to be treated like a princess or anything like that I do want to be valued as more than just a piece of meat. Which is exactly how Eric views women, and if I were to become involved with him, I'd want him to be able to offer me more than that, and it isn't fair of me to expect to get it either when I know full well he isn't capable of it. Which is something I voice to Pam on the drive back to my place, it being a Sunday and Fangtasia being closed on a Sunday meaning she has tonight off.
'So you're interest in him goes beyond physical then? Oh my' she replies lightly.
'No, no that's now what I'm saying. I don't even know him well enough to judge that. What I'm saying is I don't like just hopping into bed with someone because all they think of me is that I'm hot. I'm worth more than that, and as I said he can't offer it' I reply earnestly.
'He does have respect for you though, he told me as much. He likes how you stand up to him, how you aren't scared. He seldom ever finds people like that. But, I do agree with what you have to say, he couldn't give you what you're looking for in other respects' she replies. And that's the last time Eric's name is mentioned this evening. But, when you speak of the devil, it isn't long before he appears again...
'What are you doing?' I ask sharply as I see Eric's reflection in the computer monitor, watching him press two hands to my shoulders. It's Wednesday, three days since my flea market outing with Pam, where he was last discussed.
'Well I could have been being nice to you and giving your shoulders a massage, but since you've snapped at me I guess you'll never know' he replies in his usual flat tone, with just a touch of humour there too.
'Lies, you were doing that thing, feeling my energy or whatever the hell it is I do to you, which makes me feel kind of violated in a way' I reply as he takes his hands off my shoulders, and then leans in close to the computer.
'You need to deduct $500 from that week as a personal expense. I didn't have time to note it down' he tells me efficiently, suddenly turning his head to the side and staring at me for a few moments, making me feel like my cheek is burning. 'And you have absolutely no idea how amazing your energy feels to vampires. I've asked others here who've met you, it isn't just me and Pam who think it' he then adds.
'And what does this energy feel like?' I ask him, curious to know why I appear to be to vampires what catnip is to felines.
'A little bit like an orgasm' he says, looking me dead in the eyes with the last word of his sentence, a slight smile crooking the corner of his mouth. 'But much gentler, less explosive, almost healing' he then adds, while I just nod and look puzzled no doubt.
'If only I felt the same thing off you, I might fuck you then' I cant help but say, really actually only meaning to think it, and watching his eyebrows rise a little as he stares on at me, and then walks toward me and leans down, until his mouth is so close to my ear I can almost feel his lips graze the lobe.
'But you will, one day. One day the temptation of knowing you could have all this between your legs, pleasuring you more than any other man ever has or will, for hours on end will just be too much for you to refuse' he whispers, straightening up again and slowly winking at me before turning, and leaving the office; and me feeling like someone sucked all the air out of my lungs. And then half an hour later, the mood changes totally when he comes back.
'Out' he spits, pointing at the door as he and two other vampires enter.
'I beg your pardon?' I ask, looking up.
'Out! Now! Go talk to Pam about shoes or whatever, just get the fuck out I need my office' he replies coldly, leaving me no choice but to look disgruntled as I get up and leave. I swear he has the biggest split personality in the world. It's like; you never quite know where you stand with him, even though he's never anything short of brutally honest.
'What's with your face?' Pam snorts when I arrive by her side at the door.
'Eric being hostile' I reply, taking a sip of the glass of rarely enjoyed Coke I got at the bar on my way over. I kinda wish it was alcoholic, but I know when I'm as tired as I am at present all I'll want to do is curl up and go to sleep. And too many sugary drinks give me a fat belly, hence why I stick to juices and water for my non alcoholic options.
'He's on usual form then' she replies, with obvious affection for Eric, yet a little sympathy for me too.
'Oh yes' I reply, before her attention is called away to stop two very underage looking people from entering the bar, their eventual showing of their fake ID cards not enough to fool her, scuttling away quickly when her temper starts to rise.
'A lawyer my ass, he didn't even look old enough to stand up in court as the accused!' she announces as she comes back to my side. We stand and engage in chatter for about half an hour, until I see the office become free again as Eric and his associates exit it, and so I head back down to continue my work in peace, without any interruptions, flirty or nasty or otherwise. Because of this it only takes me another twenty five minutes to finish my work load, looking forward to heading out and straight around to Lafayette's place for dinner. I take him up on his dinner invites as often as I can, that man is a superb cook and since it's one thing I just cannot do (toast and a simple pasta dish are about the only thing I can get right) it makes a change from getting a quick take out meal or waiting in a diner or restaurant all by myself just to eat alone too. But, it seems my getaway from the club isn't going to be as quick and clean as I'd like, as when I'm making my way towards the doors, one of Eric's dancers/bar workers Ginger comes running out from behind the bar at me. She's very sweet for someone so stupid.
'Tyra! Y'all don't happen to be any good with a needle and thread do ya? I bust my shoe and I've gotta get up and dance in ten minutes, and I don't have a spare pair!' she whines at me with urgency, showing me the broken ankle strap on her PVC high heeled pumps.
'I'll give it a go' I reply, taking the shoe and threaded needle from her and following her back behind the bar, taking a seat right at the very end and seeing what I can do with her shoe.
'Thank you so much sugar!' she replies, looking greatly relieved that I've been able to come to her aid. And so I sit and double up the thread so it's extra strong, and begin to sew the snapped piece of strap containing the dainty silver buckle back onto the long piece of the strap. It's as I'm busy doing this that I feel a presence by my side, and turn to see Deborah looking at me curiously.
'How does it feel?' she asks me.
'How does what feel?' I reply, looking up at her and away from Ginger's little shoe.
'To be wanted so badly by something so powerful' she then tells me, as I follow her gaze and turn to see Eric, sat above his 'disciples' on the club stage, staring right at me.
'You tell me, you're the one fucking him' I reply, not nastily or jealously at all. Deborah is alright.
'I wouldn't know doll, because he's never looked at me in the same way he looks at you. Not even when he's inside me' she replies, before a customer gains her attention and she excuses herself politely to go serve him and his friends drinks, leaving me to turn my attention back to the size 4 shoe in my hands and continue to fix the strap, while I can feel Eric's gaze get heavier, and heavier...and heavier. The air feels thick right now, dense, like I can't breathe through it because of his continual gaze, or it could just be the fact that since I've been sitting out here in the club a gaggle of vampires have all drifted closer to me, all frequenting tables near me or propping up the bar near to where I'm sat at the end, all staring at me with keen interest, and doing nothing but make me sew up the shoe strap at double speed, giving it back to Ginger and getting the hell out of here as quickly as I can. Or try to at least.
'Shit, Tyra we just got a late delivery and I know you want to get off home as quickly as possible, but would you mind just carrying this case down to the store room? The other girls and I can manage the rest' Pam tells me, as I see a FedEx man looking nervous, like Pam's just completely chewed him out no doubt (which I'd say she probably has) waiting for a signature for four boxes full of Fangtasia merchandise.
'No problem' I reply, swinging my bag over my shoulder a little further so it doesn't slip down my arm while I'm carrying the box full of t shirts across the club and down to the stairs that lead to the store room. And as I walk across the club, I notice that Eric is no longer present, but it's a damn shame I don't notice that someone has spilled a drink right next to the open stock room door, not until I've slipped on it, the box has gone up in the air, and I begin my long, painful descent down the iron staircase, feeling things snap, tear, and pull as I try to grasp onto something to stop me from falling, and then everything going hazy when my body comes to a stop at the bottom, my head being the first thing to land as it pounds hard off the concrete floor, and even though only partly conscious, I'm in the most unbearable pain I've ever felt before...
Eric's POV.
It worked. But still, I really didn't expect her to take quite such a nasty fall down the L shaped stairs that lead down to the stock room. I heard Pam asking for her help to carry the boxes down, and saw the opportunity I've been looking for to give Tyra my blood and heal her immediately, so moved quickly through the club to spill a glass of water right in front of the steps, and then waited in the darkness to sweep in. Except I was only expecting her to slip over and bang her head on the first part of the staircase, it never crossed my mind that at being nearly six feet tall in heels, her long body would mean she'd fall much further than I thought, around the L shaped bend and straight down the thirty iron steps that lead down. And now I have to deal with the fact her broken and battered body, bleeding out heavily from her head is lying motionless at the foot of the stairs, with Ginger (who was behind her yet didn't fall) screaming in horror as she races down the stairs after her. I reach her side first though, and assess the damage, which is much, much more considerable than I ever intended. Oh well, she'll hurt for a bit until my blood heals her, but the main thing here is that I'll be able to finally gain a deeper understanding of who or what she is if she drinks of me; that is what is most in question here, not her injuries. Even though of course, I do have to make it look like a give a shit that she's badly hurt.
'OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD SHE'S GONNA DIE ERIC! HER LEGS ARE BROKEN, HER BACK'S ALL MANGLED UP AND HER HEAD...AHHHHHHHHHHHH!' Ginger screams, as suddenly Pam's blur comes to a stop in front of us, and her eyes widen a little as she takes in Tyra and her extensive injuries.
'Eric, her head..' she begins, while I sit down at her side and gently cradle her head in my lap, pressing my fingers to her temple to stem the large gash that's pumping her blood out all over the floor.
'I know Pam, do me a favour and get rid of the harpy' I reply, nodding at a hysterical Ginger while Pam does what she's been instructed, giving Tyra one last concerned (or as concerned as a vampire can look) glance before she leaves, and I look down to see her move slightly, a heavy moan of agony escaping her lips, eyelids scrunching tightly as her head lolls around, barely conscious.
'Tyra, listen to me or you're going to die. Your head is gushing blood and your vertebrae are broken and sticking out of your back amongst other injuries. You have to drink my blood, and quickly' I tell her, faking all the urgency she might be able to hear in my voice. Like I said, I have to sound convincingly concerned. I bite my wrist and then hold it to her mouth, watching my blood drip onto her lips as she parts them, just enough strength to latch on and drink, while I do the same to the gash on her head that's pulsing blood out all over us and the floor. Stem the bleeding, and get to taste her at the same time. Good thinking Eric. Once she's drank enough from me to heal her, I pull my wrist away with a little struggle (you'd be surprised just how palatable 1,000 year old vampire blood is, because of how it makes you feel inside when you drink it), while I pull my own mouth away from her wound as I feel her blood begin to run through me, and watch the temple gash begin to close up...as the strangest feeling ever not so much takes hold of me, but holds me as fast as silver would. Suddenly, I feel my own power triple by what feels like a thousand, coursing through my veins and making me feel so strong I feel like I could destroy whole planets, my senses sharpen even more and I just feel so much more...alive. Not human, but alive. Yet with that comes something I've never felt, something I can feel creeping over me like a fog...guilt. Tremendous, all consuming guilt, and a sudden genuine concern for her wellbeing I haven't felt towards anyone as a vampire, ever.
'Eric, do-don't l-let me die' she croaks weakly, even though she's healing she's still out of it, half here half not.
'I'd never let anything bad happen to you, ever' I tell her as I stroke her face, trailing blood all over her lily white cheeks, thinking over and over 'what have I done to her?' as the guilt keeps on hitting me, as do all the overwhelming feelings of concern for her. And I can't block them, I can't make them go away, it's like someone's cast a spell over me. I'm suddenly not myself anymore, I'm someone who deeply cares for the wellbeing of the beautiful blonde in his arms, and I can't stop it. And more than that...I don't want it to stop either, the pull I feel to her is so strong as I lift her up in my arms carefully, and move at speed until I'm down another level in my apartment, gently placing her down on the bed and lying next to her, not caring at all that she's getting blood all over a very expensive bed linen set, not caring about anything else other than her. Everything else has just fallen away.
'Try not to move, you're going to be okay. Everything's okay now Tyra. You fell down the stairs, but you'll be fine' I tell her soothingly as she tries to move one of her arms, which I guess is shattered at the elbow just by how horrific it looks. Vampire blood may heal you, and mine at a faster rate than most, but it does take a little time. I lie there and watch as her legs mend themselves and her arms and fingers all knitting back together, all the cuts she suffered now fully healed over. I know it's just her blood making me feel like this too, but I can't stop it, the feeling of concern over her and loathing at myself for doing this to something so beautiful, and I see that beauty in her a million times more strongly now. It does finally seal the deal for me that she's definitely not human though...no human blood would affect a vampire like this...and I nearly killed whatever she is. How could I do that to her?
'Try to sleep, I know you're fighting it but you must rest' I tell her, watching her trying to open her eyes and lift her head.
'Stay with me?' she asks, in more of a mutter than anything.
'I'm not leaving your side, I promise. I'll be right here when you wake up' I reply, stroking her head and resting mine on top of the pillow above hers, my other arm carefully wrapping around her, feeling her link her fingers through mine and hold my hand with as much strength as she can muster, turning her head and kissing my throat.
'Good, I don't want you to go, just stay with me' she replies hazily, while I nod, squeeze her hand as tight as I dare to, and lie there with her stroking her head until she's asleep. But still, long after she's fallen asleep I genuinely don't want to, and can't leave her side. Whatever she is, her blood has pulled me a thousand times closer to her, and it would seem mine has had a similar effect too for she seemed no more able, willing, or wanting in desire to pull away from me either.
Authors note - Thank you very much for the continued interest and reviews! Keep them coming girls, and I'll keep the chapters 'a rolling! x
