Been wanting to do a vampire story for the longest. Written one already but hated how it turned out so I deleted it. I said I'd do new stuff along with regular updates. Welcome to NightFall
Disclaimer: Don't own Boondocks
Happy Birthday to Me
February 21. The cold, wintry day I was born. For every other person, this is would be a joyous occasion, a milestone. You're legal to do everything under the sun and moon. But for me, it's just another bittersweet day. It's been that way for me for the last eight years. I would always suppress my melancholy around friends, none of them knew. I never told them, because while they would give me sympathy, they'd never be able to relate. Speaking of friends, my phone began buzzing as I stirred in bed, waking up for the day:
'Happy birthday girl! Let's turn up tonight!' - Melanie
'You know we're taking you out tonight right? No more excuses! You're 21 today!' - Tina
'Please come by the house, happy birthday. I love you.' – Dad
I sighed at the last text, choosing to speak to him first.
'I'm awake, and I'll be on my way, love you too.'
Putting my phone down back on my nightstand, I rolled over on my back, looking up at the ceiling. It was then I made my decision, I will really celebrate my birthday. I will go all out, and really enjoy myself.
I had to, for Sarah. My mom wouldn't want me sulking for the rest of my life. I think about her every day. How I had to navigate this crazy world without her for all these years. Sitting up, I looked at my sun block curtain. Climbing out of bed, I walked over and pulled it back, the sun flooded the room immediately.
The sun, the daylight, twelve hours never seemed to be enough for us. It was never enough. The amount of anxiety I feel when the sun begins to set…what it brings with it. The saying around here goes, when the sun dies, the Night rise. Vampires, witches and any other dark entity roam.
I honestly envied humans who still managed to have night lives. How did they dare to live so fearless? Despite the dangers we're forced to endure? I would watch my friends on IG and Snapchat living so…free. I felt trapped, trapped by my own fear, trapped by my own traumas. An internal struggle I wanted to fight today. I don't want to be scared anymore.
After I ate, showered, brushed my teeth, and got dressed, I made my way towards the house.
My apartment wasn't that far from my dad, he insisted on it being that way. I had to move out as soon as I was accepted into school. I couldn't take his paranoia, and it only got worse as I got older. He almost forbade me to leave, but he knew he couldn't do that. Eventually once I became an intern at the local vet office, I was able to move out the dorms to my current place. It was a ten minute walk home. I unlocked the door and stepped inside. I was greeted by the smell of red velvet cake, my favorite.
A real smile couldn't help but grow across my face as I got closer to the kitchen. My dad was strong to remain in this house after mother's….demise.
He was facing the stove as my home cooked birthday cake sat in the center of the table.
"Happy Birthday, Jazmine Marie." He sang as he turned to face me. I'm such a punk, I could feel my eyes water. Not from sadness as it usually was, but happiness. I don't know why but today felt…different. I said I would go out my way to make this a happy occasion and I meant that. He was lighting the '21' candles and stuck them down on the cake.
"I got your favorite, salmon, in the oven." He told me.
"Oh dad, I'm sorry, I already ate before coming over here." I apologized.
"I figured, you can take it home with you, sweetie," he turned back to take said salmon out the oven. I sat down, ready to take a piece of cake. We sat in silence, before he spoke:
"How are you feeling? Really?"
"I'm…alright dad. I appreciate you greatly. I won't ever get over what happened, but I do think it's time for us to stop being so…sad." His smile was small as he nodded.
"Sarah would've been proud of all of what you've done, Jazmine."
"…I know," my voice was weak on the verge of tears. My sweet sixteen, my graduation, the day I got my acceptance letter from college, all the most important things to me, I just wished she was…here.
"Hey Jazz…honey. There's something Sarah wanted you to know and I think…I think now is the time to tell you-"
We both jumped when my phone rang, it was my co worker and friend, Melanie.
"Hello?"
"I know you saw my text, heifer!" she screamed into the phone, making me pull back slightly.
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't respond to Tina's either, I'm with my dad." I said.
"Well we're waiting at your house. We just pulled up. We're taking you to the mall and buying you your birthday outfit because tonight we're going to the club!"
I felt myself get antsy. I know I once complained about my dad being too protective, too paranoid, but that didn't mean it didn't have an effect on me. You can't tell who's a vampire until they're right up on you…and there were clubs that mixed humans and vampires together. The most popular vampire club was 'Sinner's Den'. Women and men alike would go there with the mission to be bitten…to experience what it felt like, a fetish club. No one is supposed to be killed there and so far no one has. I never judged though, consenting adults had their right to explore what they liked. I just never went to any club, out of fear of being attacked. They knew I don't out at night.
"Which club we're going to?" I accidentally asked in front of dad, whose eyes looked like they were about to pop out his skull. I raised my hand up to stop him from outright yelling at me while I was still on the phone.
"Blue Ice!" Melanie cried, "You know we wouldn't take you to a ghetto, unsafe place for your special night, girl."
It just keeps getting worse. Vampires were welcomed there; they say it's one of those upscale clubs that has security just in case a sketchy vamp wanted to cause trouble. When I didn't immediately respond, she sighed.
"Jazmine…it will be okay. We won't let you get too drunk because yes girl, you will be drinking, but we will also make sure all of us get home the same way we came. I know shit crazy out here but…we got to have fun. We have holy water on us; you think we go out here raw with no protection, nigga?"
The irony of holy water needing to be used in an unholy place was not lost on me. But it did make me feel better to know they didn't go out without anything.
"Okay I—"
"JAZMINE!" He couldn't hold in, I clicked my teeth, "Let me call you back." Melanie heard him and understood, hanging up immediately.
"Jamzine! Have you lost your mind? Going out at night? Are you serious? I know it's your birthday but you need to be smarter!"
"Dad… I am being smart. We will have things to protect ourselves, I'll be careful. I promise!" I shouted. He sighed, frustrated and turned from me.
"…She told me not to do this….but I can't help myself. You're my only daughter Jazmine." He turned back to look at me and cupped my face into his hands.
"…Promise me you'll be safe."
"I will, daddy. What were you about to tell me?"
He bit his lip and shook his head, "I'll tell you later. It can wait. Go on to your friends." He hugged me tightly.
I smiled and turned to leave, taking my salmon with me; I had to leave the remainder of the cake at home because that would've been too much to carry. I finally met up with my friends and they did well on their promise and took me to the mall and bought me a dress. It was a short, spaghetti strapped purple satin dress with dragon print all over. They loved it when I wore purple, said it would always bring out my forest green eyes. My strawberry blonde hair was down, past my shoulders in all its curly glory. We were getting ready at my house, it was just sundown. As I was applying my lipstick, my nerves were getting to me. Yes, I was scared, but I was not turning back now.
"Girl, so many niggas are going to try to knock your ass down." Tina gave my ass a slap.
"Hey, not so rough back there." I giggled as I was putting on my black choker.
"I agree, Jazmine you are looking too bomb! You gonna bag you a husband, fuck a boyfriend." We all laughed.
"I know it's my birthday, but you guys look lit too. Look at Tina with the fresh sow in."
"Bitch, you know it." She patted her platinum blonde hair. Melanie had her Lemonade braids in; as she rarely wore weave like that. We all were wearing the same dress but in different colors. Melanie's dress was red, Tina's blue. The more we talked, the less scared I became. This was my night. Jazmine Marie Du'bois' night. We all mirrored checked and took Snapchat pictures before turning to leave.
"Hold on guys, I left something, go ahead on to car," I told them as I stood in the door way. I walked back into the bathroom. Gripping the sink, I found myself rocking back and forth. My anxiety turning my stomach in knots.
'Relax, relax.' I told myself. I got my shit together and eventually left.
/
Let me tell you, when I say the club was on point, it was on point! Nothing but the grown and sexy came out tonight! I say grown because we were here for over an hour and no one was musty or stunk up the dance floor with bad body odor. I heard the stories from the girls, which made me laugh as they reminisced.
"Girl, we glad you didn't come with us that night, bitches was down BAD. Bitch my nose was about to fall the fuck off!" Melanie screamed. I just laughed as I took another drink of Hennessy. I've drank before, mostly at home, so this wasn't my first rodeo with alcohol. Tina got us a VIP booth and we were chilling there taking a break before dancing again.
"So Jazz, you saw any cute guys?" Melanie nudged me. I shook my head, no not really.
"No one that just stands out, everyone looks just…okay. You know what I mean?" I didn't have crazy high standards, but seriously, no one caught my eye. There were some handsome men there…but they didn't…speak to me.
"Girl you know Jazz looking for her prince, riding in on a damn pony!" Tina laughed.
"Don't be rude. The pony has a name: Sammy Davis Jr." Tina expressed with emphasis.
"Shut up, bitch." I scoffed as she just laughed harder. Suddenly, the DJ, got on the mic:
"Ayyye! Shout out to Pisces season! Where all my birthday women at!?" he screamed. I and multiple people shouted out, holding our drinks up in the air.
"Aight, we gotta lot of 'em in this bitch tonight, so it's only right I play the Fairy Queen Pisces herself! All my gorgeous pussy fairies where ya'll at? Get ya'll hypnotic asses on the dance floor!" I laughed as I joined the other birthday girls, and a few guys on the dance floor. Thanks to liquid courage. Tina and Melanie clapped and cheered me on as I began singing with Jhene Aiko:
"I know you love fucking me! I can tell right away you in love with me, you can't get enough of me yeah, well I guess it lookin like you stuck me, cause I got you sprung off in the spring time, fuck all your free time, you don't need no me time, that's you and me time. We be getting so loud, that dick make my soul smile, that dick make so damn proud!" I laughed as I sang, we were singing the second verse and I just so happened to look up and I nearly froze in place. That's when I saw him. He was on the second floor, looking down directly at me.
Have you ever seen a man so handsome, your breathing stopped? Features so striking, you wouldn't be able to believe someone was made that way? A man so beautiful, you wanted know who the hell their parents were…and thank them. He looked like he was tall, donning all black with a single gold ankh chain. His skin was like Melanie's, a rich mocha color, not a single blemish on his face. What completed his frame? He had the most full, lush afro I have ever seen someone sport. You would've thought it was a wig with how big it was. It was neat, even, making me ashamed that I ever doubted the beauty of my own natural hair. Straight out of the 70's, rivaling any known Black Panther member. His maroon eyes never wavered from the locked stare, I was stuck and I was getting embarrassed, I was acting like I never seen a man before! I could not stop looking his way. Was he always here? I feel like I would've seen him earlier in the night if he was. Then it hit me, I really…really could not stop looking at him. I tried to move my body, but I couldn't! With a finger motion, he beckoned me to him, and only then, did I move.
'What's going on? Am I not moving on my own free will?' I honestly couldn't tell, though I felt more and more nervous as I found myself walking towards him.
I was now face to face with him, and yes, he was tall. I had to look up at him. His face was neutral as he spoke to me with his rich, baritone voice.
"Good evening, what's your name?"
"Jazmine Du'bois."
I was feeling…off. I can't explain it. It felt like there was some kind of…hold on me. I shook my head, trying to shake whatever just came over me. Maybe it's the alcohol.
"So stranger, you gonna tell me your name?" I arched an eyebrow and poked his chest. It was like poking a statue; he must work out a lot. He tilted his head and did a small smirk, and let me say that just made him look even sexier.
"Freeman. Huey." Returning the smirk I extended my hand.
"You don't strike me as a wallflower, mind dancing with the birthday girl?" Man, this Hennessy had me out here bold. Under different circumstances, his stance would leave me shy. He was so different from everyone here, I was honestly curious about him.
"I wouldn't refuse such offer, but let's go somewhere a little…private if you don't mind." He took my hand and lead me to a vip room. The room was lit by soft pink party lights, furnished with a crush velvet love seat and sofa set. In the center of this mood room was a black ottoman with a bucket of champagne chilling in ice.
"Oh, so who did you have in here before me, Freeman?" I giggled as I made my way to the sofa.
"No one, I just was stood up by my friend who was going to bring the party with him, I saw you as I was leaving to cancel the reservation." Huey poured two glasses and handed me one.
"Some friend you had."
"Its fine, I found another." He looked at me. Friends. Friends. I blinked and shook my head. What is going on? I had ditched my own friends! And I just realized I left my purse with my phone and holy water behind as well.
"Oh Huey, I have friends here myself! I have to tell them where-" I went to stand up but Huey placed a finger over my lips and sat me back down when he held me by my hand.
"What friends? There isn't anyone here more important than me right now, isn't that right….Jazmine?"
Yes…that is right. I nodded and resumed drinking from the glass. Did I even come with friends? Where did that come from?
"So birthday girl, tell me about yourself, what are you into? How old are you turning?"
"I'm the big twenty-one! And I'm currently studying to be a veterinarian." I smiled widely.
"Ahh, so no wonder you're drinking like a fish." He teased.
"I'm not drunk." I stuck my tongue out at him and folded my arms.
'Jazmine…wake up.' A small voice in the back of my mind called. Puzzled I shook my head. What was that?
'Jazmine…wake up. You're being put under a spell.'
It was then I decided to stop drinking. I kept hearing weird shit. Huey must've noted my mood change.
"Everything okay?" I blinked once I realized I was staring at him.
"Yes…I…I am tired." I gripped the side of my head and leaned over. The voice continued to nag at me, constantly telling me to 'wake up' and the longer I was with Huey, the louder the voice got. I wanted to go home, but I wanted the conversation to go on. He hasn't talked about himself yet.
"Sounds like it's time for you to go home. I can take you, if you can't find your friends."
Friends? Oh yes! Tina! Melanie. I knew I didn't come here alone…I would never do that because of…wait. Why did I even forget that? I groaned. I wound up drinking far too much after all.
"I'm sorry. I just started feeling off all of the sudden. I don't need to throw up, my head is bothering me." I sighed. I also didn't get to dance on him as I intended. I have no idea where all of this is coming from right now. My mind is turning into fog and I keep hearing voices. He helped me up and guided me to the door.
Well this was embarrassing. When we got downstairs, I was bombed by the girls.
"Bitch, do have you any idea how worried we were? We spent the last hour looking for you!" Tina yelled.
I was gone for that long? That can't be right. Melanie was looking at Huey wearily and I stood in front of him.
"Guys, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I met this guy, err Huey. Huey Freeman and we were talking in the VIP." That's all I remember. We met…and we talked. That's it.
"Evening ladies," Huey did a light wave. They looked at me with relief and sighed.
"Nice to meet you, but now that our heart attacks have subsided, we need to go." Melanie said with a slight attitude, trying not to take it out on Huey. I felt awful. I worried them so much; I swear it didn't feel like I was gone for that long. Huey followed me out to the car and the girls got inside.
"Sorry I never gave you that dance." I apologized sheepishly.
"Don't be. We will be seeing each other again, put your number in my phone." He handed it to me and I happily obliged his request.
"Text me tonight, let me know you made it home okay," I told him as I got in the backseat.
"Of course. Goodnight, Jazmine Du'bois, and Happy birthday."
Blushing, I waved at him through the window as they pulled off. I faced the seats and they were as silent as ever.
"Hey, I-"
"We will talk later. Jazmine, we almost called your dad." Tina said seriously.
"How could you walk off with a stranger without your phone? Without the holy water we gave you? What if that Huey person was a vampire? He could've drank you dry and we wouldn't have known a thing." Melanie ranted. I felt tears bubble up in my eyes as I clamped my hands tightly in my lap.
"I-I am so-sorry." I stammered. The rest of the car ride home was quiet, and I retired into my phone screen, partly hoping Huey would text me now rather than later. I was careless tonight. But I'm still alive. But I couldn't help but wonder what that voice was, and why I felt so weird.
/
Huey
I watched them drive off and scoffed. I was perturbed and interested at the same time. Perturbed because I was as horny as I was thirsty; and interested because Jazmine kept breaking in and out of my bewitchment. I was testing her fortitude, and liquor aside, she handled my magic well, better than the average human. That was…interesting to me. When she just stared at me back in the room, I honestly thought she figured out what was happening. I almost was alarmed, thinking she had a talisman on her letting her know I wasn't human.
"My guy! I am SO sorry I am late." I frowned harder as I faced the owner.
"Well if it isn't my favorite lackey." Caesar rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms.
"Sorry your highness, I will do better to arrive at your beck and call faster."
"…See that you do. You had me waiting for over an hour, what were you doing?" my anger coming closer to the surface. He sucked his teeth with annoyance.
"Hiro is back in town, and you know this, he got lost and I had to help him get back to the mansion. I know you wouldn't have wanted a field of bats flying aimlessly around, attracting unwanted eyes."
Hiro is the only vampire I know with a horrible sense of direction. As many times as we've come here, he still has a hard time finding his way. How?
"Pfft. You two make Riley seem more competent," I spat. "Now that I mention it, at times….he actually is."
"C'mon man. I'm here, I'm thirsty, and I'm trying to get my dick wet. Can we please just get to the festivities of human debauchery?" he raised his arms in the air. None of the women in that club compared to Jazmine, not by looks or by the smell of her blood. Her blood smelled so delicious, the mere memory of her scent made my fangs tingle. I wanted her in several of ways but I'm a patient man. Plus, since I was testing her at the time, I didn't want to bite her then. I wanted her to remember everything about me.
"Let's just go to the Den then, the girls inside here weren't hitting on anything." I sighed as I turned from him. I could still alleviate most of my current…issues.
"Fine by me, let's roll!" Caesar cheered. We walked into a nearby alleyway, transformed into our bat forms and flew to our destination.
/
Jazmine
I was fast asleep when my phone began to buzz. Tina and Melanie were still very much pissed at me, but still decided to spend the night as they were snoring loudly in the living room.
"Hello?" I said, not realizing how exhausted I really was.
"I know you said to text, but I wanted to call. I'm home now."
"Huey, it's like five thirty in the morning!" I winced as I accidentally flashed myself with this bright screen.
"My friend showed up, and we hung out."
"Ahhh well that's good, party animal." My eyes felt heavy again and I felt myself nodding back to sleep.
"Well I guess you could say I wanted to go all out, as this could be the last night I can do whatever I want. Could I interest you into going out for dinner with me tonight?" his voice was so calm, it was soothing.
"Oh , really? Well when I see you I expect a whole story of your night. Let me find out you were thotting. Where we going?" That nearly woke me up, but honestly this really needed to wait until I was awake.
"Somewhere nice and I want you to dress up for me. I'll ignore that little comment you made."
"For you? Boy, I dress up for myself and nah, you were thotting." I giggled.
"Listen to you, trying to be tough."
"Because I am tough," My head fell out of my hand once again, sleep winning the battle.
"Sure thing, go on and get some rest, I'll see you later today."
"Okay, bye" I hung the phone up and immediately went back sleep, though I was surprised I was able to, seeing as how excited I am.