Author notes: This is a multi chapter kind of thing... and for the first time I'm trying out the first person view when writing.
Rated R for safety
Disclaimer: If you recognize it then I don't own it. A few of the characters are though, such as Cat, Mia, Maria and Tina. Any resemblance between them and any living, dead or fictional characters is purely coincidental! No copyright infringement intended in any way or form.
Comments are still the only food my muses accept so please... send any comments you have, good or bad
*Cat*
"So, what do you want to know?"
I looked at them as my mind raced with questions and I tried to figure out what I wanted to know first. What did I want to know? My mind was a jumble of things. A mix of what Josef had told me, what I had read about the legends, my own fears and my curiosity and I tried my best to bring some sort of order to my thoughts. Looking at them I realised what my first question would be.
"How does it work? I mean… you know… what you do", I stumbled over the words a bit. I had asked them many times before what it was they were doing. How they got their money. I finally knew I would get the full answer. An honest explanation of what they did. They looked between them and as usual it seemed to be decided that Tina would be the one talking. She was usually the one to explain all the facts.
"We work as freshies. All three of us met through an agency that we are employed by. When a vampire wants fresh blood they can call the agency and order a freshie and we go out to the vampire. The only thing we are contracted to do is allow the vampire to bite us and feed from our blood. Anything else is our own choice and not paid for. It's like donating blood only much more pleasurable and you know who gets the blood. At times a vampire can order a donation in the form of blood bags in which case we go in exactly like when you donate blood. We get a needle in our arm and they draw blood and send the bag to the vampire in question. Other times we are expected to attend parties such as the one we brought you to. All humans at such parties are usually freshies and are expected to feed the vampire guests at the party but at parties it is always the freshies choice who they want to feed. We are always allowed to say no if the vampire asking to feed from us isn't someone we would want to feed", Tina looked at me all the while she spoke. I listened with interest. It sounded so strange but when she spoke about blood donations I could actually see how they could see it like that. If it weren't for the biting aspect, the fact it must hurt, and yet that girl had seemed to like it. They must like it or why would they do it over and over again?
"Doesn't it hurt? When they bite I mean?" I looked between them and they al shook their heads.
"It hurts just as they bite down but they either numb the pain so you don't feel it, or if the vampire is good they make it pleasurable", Tina explained.
"So very very pleasurable", Mia sighed, a lyrical expression on her face as she leaned back and rubbed her fingers over her wrist. When I looked at it I realised she had small scars scattered over the skin on the inside of her wrist.
"Aren't you afraid they'll go too far?" I looked at them, concerned as I thought of the facts I had thought I knew. That vampires had to kill when they fed. They all shook their heads.
"Not really", Maria said with a soft smile. "The agency checks out all their clients and there's always medical staff close by, especially at parties. Of course the risk is there. But vampires usually can't feed so much that it would kill us, that's like over eating."
"So… you really like being freshies?" I looked at them, trying to grasp this fact. They all nodded.
"Yes, we do. Being freshies is good money, it's pleasurable most times and it's given us all contacts that most people would die for", Maria smiled softly at me again, patting my hand. I let my mind process the information I'd been given. It stopped at one fact. Bagged blood.
"The donations in bag that you mentioned… Does that mean a vampire doesn't have to actually bite a human to survive? They can get that bagged donation and that's good?" I looked at them, almost hopeful. I wasn't sure I could stand Josef feeding on girls around me so I needed to know there was a viable alternative. Maria nodded and patted my hand again.
"Yes, they can. A donation straight from the source is usually the absolute best. But as an alternative, freshly donated in a bag is the best option and they survive very well on that. Some vampires prefer it over the biting actually", Tina explained and smiled at me. They all knew why I asked since they all knew why it had ended with he-who-shall-not-be-named. Of course they knew I feared being cheated on again. Especially since what I felt for Josef was already so much stronger than anything I had ever felt before.
"So… have you all been bitten by Josef?" I couldn't help asking. I didn't want to know but somehow I knew I needed it. I needed to know if he had been with my friends in that way or not. As they all shook their heads firmly I breathed a sigh of relief.
"No, kitty Cat. The night you met him was the first time either of us had been invited to one of his parties. We've seen him around at other parties that we've worked at of course. But he usually brings one of his own freshies. I've never actually seen him feed from a girl from one of the agencies though I know he orders from the agency for his parties and sometimes he gets bagged donations", Maria smiled at me and hugged me. I knew she was trying to ease my mind, but I was also sure she was telling me the truth which helped relax me.
It was a lot to take in, but somehow I was starting to feel better. Talking and asking questions was helping to ease my mind and I began to wrap my head around this. Josef was a vampire. A vampire that had to feed on blood to survive. But there were alternatives to him feeding on girls the way I had seen him do. It was something to talk to him about, see if it was something he would be ok with. At least in the beginning, until I had gotten a chance to get used to the fact my boyfriend was a vampire.
"So… uhm… does that mean you don't know Josef?" I looked between them.
"We know of him. But we don't know him at all as well as you do. Freshies talk and gossip just like other girls do. Instead of comparing how they are in bed we usually compare and gossip about how a vampires bite is and how they treat their freshies", Maria smiled at me. As did Tina and Mia. Mia had that almost jealous look again. One that I had seen many times when I had been talking about Josef during the past few weeks.
"Can you tell me? I want to know what is being said about him", I looked at them and got smiles in return.
"Josef has a rumour of being the best bite in LA. From what we've heard he always treats his girls with the utmost respect and care. Basically, he's the dream vampire for many freshies. The one all of us wants to get to know and be bitten by", Maria smiled at me as she spoke.
"So, he has a good reputation?" I asked, not really sure what I thought of what she had just said. Maria nodded.
"Yes, kitty Cat. He has a reputation of being hard on those who break the rules and he won't stand anyone risking the community. Keeping their secret is the most important thing. But he also has a reputation of being fair, fun to be around, the best bite, respectful and many many other good qualities. He's the dream vampire and you caught him, baby", Maria smiled and hugged me.
"I'm not sure I have", I sighed and returned her hug.
"Cat, he told you what he was. From what you've told us during the past few weeks he cares a lot for you. Only way to know how much is to ask him. You need to talk to him sweetie. We can give you the facts about what we do. The rumours about him. But only he can answer your questions properly when it comes to him", Maria smiled at me.
"You know you have to talk to him", Tina added and looked at me. I nodded. I knew I had to. I also knew that to be able to talk to him properly I had to know exactly what I wanted in this.
"Is there anything else you need to know?" Tina looked at me closely. I sighed and worried my lower lip.
"He said he sometimes have sex with his freshies. But that he hasn't had sex with any of them since he met me… Do you think that's true?" I looked at them. Nervous at what their response would be. Maria hugged me and rubbed my shoulder soothingly.
"Most vampires do have sex with their exclusives. That is not something new. Vampires are very sexual creatures and definitely enjoy their sex. I can't tell you for sure he hasn't. But if he says he hasn't, I think you should trust him. From what we've heard, you can trust him to tell you the truth", Tina smiled in support as she answered my question. I knew why she was the one answering it. If they had heard anything, she would've been the one strong enough to be blunt and tell me. This also meant if she said they hadn't heard anything then I knew I could trust it. I couldn't help the relief that filled me. I would've died if he had been lying about that. Of course, just because they hadn't heard that he had been having sex since I came into the picture, it didn't mean he hadn't. I preferred trusting him though. If I didn't, our relationship would be doomed before it began really.
That's when I knew. I was going to give this a chance. I would talk to him, and if he was willing as well. If he felt anything like what I felt for him, then I was going to give our relationship a chance. I could get used to him being a vampire if he allowed me time and if he would promise to always be truthful and allow me to ask my questions as they came to mind. I loved him and I wanted to be with him. It was as simple as that.
I had to smile as calmness filled me with the certainty that this was the right decision. Then my nerves entered the picture. Now I had to talk to him. What would he say? What was he thinking? Did he feel the same?
"Call him", Maria said and placed my phone in my hand. They all smiled and I knew they knew what my decision had been and they supported me. I had to smile back. Despite everything, they were the best friends a girl could have and I knew they would be there for me should this turn badly.
I quickly dialled his cell phone number and listened impatiently as it connected and began to ring.
"Josef Kostan", his voice sent shivers down my spine as always. He sounded tired.
"Hi Josef. It's Cat", I said and struggled with how to say this.
"Cat!" he sounded happy to hear my voice. At least it sounded like it to me.
"I… I need to talk to you. Can I come over?" I worried my lower lip and felt Maria rubbing my shoulder in support.
"Yes, of course. Do you want me to send the car?" I wasn't sure, but he almost sounded eager. Underneath, I thought I heard a hint of nerves as well.
"No, I'll drive over myself. Are you at home or the office?"
"At home. When?" I worried my lip again as I looked at the time.
"Can I come right away?" There was a silence on the other side for a second.
"Yes. I'll be waiting" I relaxed and felt the knot in my tummy grow.
"Ok. I'll see you soon then" I quickly hung up before I could change my mind. My friends hugged me and helped me find my keys and get myself together and then I headed down to my car and drove up in the hills to talk to Josef.
To be continued